COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford carried on a lively e-mail exchange with his lover in Buenos Aires, praising her "gentle kisses," her tan lines, and the "curve of your hips," according to copies of messages given to The State.

The newspaper posted excerpts on its Web site yesterday, using only the woman's first name, Maria, and removing all other personal details, including her e-mail address and children's names.

The paper had been trying to authenticate the e-mail messages since December, when it received them, and succeeded only yesterday, when the governor's office said it would not dispute their authenticity.

In one message, Sanford told his lover that a visit with GOP presidential candidate John McCain had sparked discussion that he was being considered as McCain's running mate.

Some messages hint at his emotional struggle.

"This is ground I have never certainly never covered before - so if you have pearls of wisdom on how we figure all this out please let me know," Sanford wrote. "In the meantime please sleep soundly knowing that despite the best efforts of my head my heart cries out for you, your voice, your body, the touch of your lips, the touch of your finger tips and an even deeper connection to your soul."

A McClatchy Newspapers special correspondent visited the 14-story apartment building in Buenos Aires yesterday where the woman lives. (The street address was in the e-mail.)

The woman at the address answered to the name in the e-mail and, at first, agreed to speak to a visitor, but she declined after the visitor identified herself as a reporter.

According to a doorman at the building, the woman has two sons, one a teenager of driving age and the other younger. The e-mail refer to the woman's two sons.

Here are excerpts:

From Sanford, Thursday, July 10, 2008, 12:24 a.m.:

"One, tomorrow leave at 5 a.m. for New York and meetings. Will think about you on its streets and wish I was going to be there later in the month when you are there. Tomorrow night back to Philadelphia for the start of the National Governor's Conference through the weekend. Back to Columbia for Tuesday and then on Wednesday, as I think I had told you, taking the family to China, Tibet, Nepal, India, Thailand and then back through Hong Kong on world wind tour. Few days home then to Bahamas for 5 days on a friend's boat for the last break of the summer. The following weekend have been asked to spend it out in Aspen, Colorado with McCain - which has kicked up the whole VP talk all over again in the press back home . . .

"Two, mutual feelings . . .You have a particular grace and calm that I adore. You have a level of sophistication that so fitting with your beauty. I could digress and say that you have the ability to give magnificent gentle kisses, or that I love your tan lines or that I love the curve of your hips, the erotic beauty of you holding yourself (or two magnificent parts of yourself) in the faded glow of the night's light - but hey, that would be going into sexual details . . .

"Three and finally, while all the things above are all too true - at the same time we are in a hopelessly - or as you put it impossible - or how about combine and simply say hopelessly impossible situation of love. How in the world this lightening strike snuck up on us I am still not quite sure. . . .

From Maria, Wednesday, July 9, 2008, 8:14 p.m.:

"As I told you I shouldn't have done this trip but I would have felt worst if I wouldn't have come because it was too over the date, he is a very nice guy, great heart . . . but unfortunately I am not in love with him . . . You are my love . . ."

From Sanford, Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 1:42 a.m.:

"Got back an hour ago to civilization and am now in Columbia after what was for me a glorious break from reality down at the farm. No phones ringing and tangible evidence of a day's labors. Though I have started every day by 6 this morning woke at 4:30, I guess since my body knew it was the last day, and I went out and ran the excavator with lights until the sun came up. To me, and I suspect no one else on earth, there is something wonderful about listening to country music playing in the cab, air conditioner running, the hum of a huge diesel engine in the back ground . . ."