I agree that they were not liked (or it appears so). They do have separate elections, but Sanford was done with his second term so he would not be running for Governor again. Now I totally understand being a political rival. I am sure that there are many many out there, but all Governor Sanford had to say was “I am out of town for four days. You are acting govenor until I get back”. We do this all the time in the military even when the CO/XO hate each other (yes that is the case more times than not...lol).
As convoluted and strange as this whole situation is, Sanford would have had to make a public statement to that effect, in order to have avoided what has happened. His second in command is not being honest.