COLUMBIA - Gov. Mark Sanford is backing off his top legislative priority that would have given parents tax credits for private school tuition.

The Republican said he still believes in school choice but acknowledged that it has little chance of passing when the General Assembly returns to Columbia in January.

"I have believed, I do believe, I will always believe in school choice. It is a linchpin reform to improve education in South Carolina," Sanford said in an interview Tuesday. "But as a reality, I don't think you will see it move through in an election year."

Sanford said he would direct his attention to a bill that would create more charter schools by giving the approval power to a statewide panel. That effort, he said, is more likely to pass in 2006 - an election year when voters will take a hard look at the governor's accomplishments.

The governor's concession is a significant development in the debate about one of the most politically polarizing issues since the Confederate battle flag.

Sanford pushed harder for his private school tax credit than any other issue, delivering numerous speeches supporting the initiative, called "Put Parents in Charge." Likewise, special interest groups formed solely to advocate the measure spent hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A version of the plan, altered by lawmakers in the committee process, ultimately died on the House floor in May. "Last year it was like the world was going to stop if this didn't get through," said Neal Thigpen, a Francis Marion University political science professor. "They put on a full court press and couldn't make it."

Sanford's remarks infuriated lawmakers who have helped propel the issue through the House in the last two legislative sessions.

"It's a slap in the face to those of us . who haven't backed down," said Rep. Tracy Edge, a Myrtle Beach Republican who sponsored the current version pending in a House committee.

Edge also questioned Sanford's line of thinking. He said the governor has rarely considered the political reality of an issue, pointing to his voting pattern as a congressman. "Since when has that mattered?" Edge asked. "For a guy in Congress who voted 1 to 400 on numerous bills . what is this political expediency argument?"

Thigpen said Sanford has reason to worry about his legislative accomplishments coming into a campaign season.

"I think it's dawning on people that he had all his eggs in one basket," he said.

Edge and other supporters of a private school tax-credit plan vowed to keep fighting when the Legislature begins meeting next year.

"This is not going away," pledged Denver Merrill, spokesman for South Carolinians for Responsible Government, a group that formed to support the idea.

After a crushing blow when the legislation died, supporters were optimistic that momentum was growing, though not all were convinced.

Proponents point to recent reports emphasizing dismal state test scores and word that even some former opponents are talking about school choice, although in a more limited context.

Still, strong opponents aren't putting much stock in the governor's new stance. Lachlan McIntosh, the executive director of the state Democratic Party, called it a "stunt."

"Governor Sanford is one of the nation's leading private school voucher proponents," he said. "He's not going to fool anyone with election year tricks and gimmicks."

Jon Buzton, executive director of the Charleston Education Network, agreed.

"I am not sure I can accept it at face value," he said. "Too much money and effort are involved to make it go away that easy."