But not for some sort of romantic interlude. South America, especially Brazil, is gaining ground in IT offshoring.

South American countries are focusing on what they say are critical advantages over India. With Buenos Aires only one hour ahead of the South Carolina's state capitol, Columbia, e-mails -- romantic or otherwise -- can get more immediate reaction.

And South America is a relatively short flight, , meaning visiting managers will be less tired at dinner meetings.

The nonstop flight Sanford likely took from Atlanta to meet his Argentine mistress was about 10 hours. The flight from Atlanta to Bangalore can take anywhere from 20 to 30 hours, depending on connections.

Gartner Inc. put Argentina and Brazil on its list of 30 top offshore locations for this year, alongside such countries as India, China and nearshore locations of Canada and Mexico.