COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The majority of South Carolina's state Senate Republicans are calling on Gov. Mark Sanford to leave office.

The growing chorus of lawmakers who've publicly announced or told The Associated Press they want the philandering governor gone reached 14 on Wednesday. There are 27 Republicans in the Senate -- a 46-member chamber the party controls.

The tally shows the erosion of the governor's support but has no practical effect. Any impeachment move would have to begin in the GOP-controlled House.

However, the Senate is where Sanford has drawn the most support from lawmakers. The defectors include five of his dozen closest allies.

Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler, of Gaffney, said Tuesday's revelations from the governor about his affair raise doubts about Sanford's ability to lead the state.

In a lengthy, emotional interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Sanford described seven meetings with the Argentine woman he described as his “soul mate.” That includes two multi-night stays with her in New York.

The Republican governor also admitted to “crossing lines” with women other than his mistress during the AP interview; however, he said he never had sex with those women.

Peeler said the governor has not been consistent in his story about liaisons with his mistress. He also said the governor seems unfocused.

In addition to the Senators calling for his resignation, Sanford is also being asked to step down by six newspapers across the state.

The Greenville News, The Herald-Journal of Spartanburg, The Herald of Rock Hill, the Morning News of Florence, The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg and The Item of Sumter all called on Sanford to resign.

The Spartanburg Herald-Journal said Wednesday that Sanford "has squandered the trust South Carolinians had in him."

The Greenville News said Sanford "has destroyed any shred of credibility with his lies unnecessarily added on top of other lies."

The governor has said that he will not resign because that would be taking the easy way out.