The political stakes are extremely high this year for Republican Gov. Mark Sanford and his GOP cohorts as they prepare for today's opening of the 116th General Assembly of South Carolina.

Bottom line: They must deliver. They cannot afford another two years of spinning their wheels and accomplishing nothing. Voters won't stand for it.

A way must be found to narrow the gap between promise and performance. It will require some give by both sides.

Last session, the Republican-controlled House gave Sanford much of what he wanted. The problem came in the Senate, which became the graveyard for the governor's agenda.

Efforts are under way to alter the playing field to give Sanford's agenda a better chance of passing this year.

With an assist from Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, Sanford supporters are hoping to change Senate rules to make it easier to choke off extended debate and force a straight up-or-down vote on the merits of a bill. Last year, a handful of senators talked the governor's income tax relief bill to death without a vote on the measure.

"The bottom line is, if you care about creating new jobs, better government, improving our kids' test scores and making our state more business friendly, you've got to first update the rules of the state Senate," Sanford said.

He says South Carolina cannot compete in a 21st century economy without modernizing the process in the Senate.

Senate Democratic Leader John Land of Manning opposes the rules change.

"This is nothing but a small attempt to fashion the rules whereby Republicans can bring their troops into line to pass anything they want," Land said. "If we can't debate in the Senate and allow people to think for themselves, then something is grossly wrong with our government."

Sanford hopes to get four major ticket items through the legislature during the remaining two years of his term.

The governor's agenda and the Palmetto Pledge offered by the House GOP Caucus are similar. Each seeks action on income tax relief, changes in how lawsuits are filed, government restructuring and flexibility in education for parents.

This doesn't guarantee a harmonious session, though.

"You're going to see tension between the governor and legislators over his agenda," predicted Winthrop University analyst Scott Huffmon.

Facing re-election in 2006, Sanford needs to come out of this contest with some successes under his belt.

But Francis Marion University political analyst Neal Thigpen, a Republican activist, is skeptical: "I'm not going to be tremendously surprised if this session comes and goes and not a whole lot is accomplished."

The key question is this: Has Sanford changed or learned something from his previous setbacks?

Those who know him say Sanford is the same man. His convictions are rock solid. He shows little desire to compromise.

"It becomes an all-or-nothing game," Huffmon said. "And often you're left without any accomplishments."

If Sanford goes three straight years with zip to show for his efforts, it could energize Democrats or generate talk in GOP ranks that maybe he isn't so invincible.