(AP) -- COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer is officially running for governor.
Bauer announced Thursday he opened a gubernatorial campaign account.
The Republican has long been expected to run in 2010.
But in recent months, he offered to stay out of the race if he became the state's top official by the end of October because Gov. Mark Sanford resigned, or legislators
removed him.
Bauer says the Legislature's failure to take up impeachment at this week's special session means his offer is now gone.
House Speaker Bobby Harrell ruled out of order an impeachment resolution proposed by GOP Rep. Greg Delleney.
Bauer called the move disheartening, because Sanford's fate won't be decided until next year.
Bauer joins four others in June's Republican primary.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
