COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Newly released e-mails show that South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford pushed for a packed schedule, but wanted to keep an evening free on a taxpayer-funded trip to Argentina last year.

The e-mails released by the state Commerce Department show the planning that went into the trip, which the married governor has said was the start of his affair with an Argentine woman.

The e-mails show that Sanford asked to meet with a real estate agent with connections to ranches and farmland because he wanted to learn more about the topic.

Sanford confessed publicly to the affair last month after disappearing on a secret trip to Argentina to see his mistress.

The Republican governor has said in interviews with The Associated Press that the woman is his soul mate but that he is trying to fall back in love with his wife.

Group Calls For Sanford To Step Down

About 60 people rallied at the Statehouse on Thursday to call for Sanford's resignation or removal.

The "resign or impeach citizen's rally" was promoted through the social networking Web site Facebook.

Protesters said that while the affair is a private matter between Sanford and his wife of 20 years, the governor should resign for abandoning the state without passing on authority to the lieutenant governor.

“It’s not about the politics,” said Phil Noble, president of the South Carolina New Democrats. “It’s not about the sex in Argentina. It’s about what you as a governor have done to violate the public trust in this state.”

A handful of Sanford supporters argued the governor took a much-deserved vacation after working overtime to fight the federal stimulus.

“There’s no reason for him to resign because he’s done a good job and is still doing a good job,” said John Purna, a Sanford supporter.

Noble acknowledged it was a largely Democratic crowd at the rally.