June 28 (Bloomberg) -- Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty said revelations of extramarital affairs by two prominent fellow Republican officials have damaged the party.

The recent admissions by South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and Nevada Senator John Ensign that they’ve had extramarital relationships hurt the Republican “brand,” Pawlenty said on CNN’s “State of the Union” program today.

“Clearly there’s been damage,” he said. “Any time you have leading figures engaged in behavior that’s sad, troubling, hypocritical -- other people are going to look at that and say, ‘They don’t walk the walk.’”

Pawlenty said Sanford was wrong to disappear for a week to be with his mistress in Argentina, leaving his staff and security detail unable to reach him.

“Your staff has to be able to reach you and reach you quickly,” Pawlenty said. Sanford “should not have left the state” with his staff unable to contact him in the case of natural disaster or terrorism attacks, he said.

Sanford resurfaced on June 24 to acknowledge he had been in Argentina seeing a woman with whom he carried on a yearlong affair. He apologized at a news conference in Columbia, South Carolina, and said he “let down a lot of people.” He didn’t respond when asked if he would give up the governorship.

Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said Sanford on is “devastated” by events.

‘Second Chance’

Asked about the governor on NBC’s “Meet the Press” program, Graham, who is the godfather of Sanford’s youngest child, said that if Sanford can reconcile with his wife, “the people of South Carolina will be willing to give him a second chance.”

Sanford was mentioned as a possible contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 and he had a national platform as chairman of the Republican Governors Association. He gave up that post and will be succeeded by Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour.

Ensign stepped down as chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, the fourth-ranking party leadership position in that chamber, after admitting he had an extramarital affair with a campaign aide.

To contact the reporter on this story: Bill Schmick in Washington at wschmick@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: June 28, 2009 11:52 EDT