Demint: a conservative kingmaker upends gop order

May 11th, 2010|Sasha James
Senate

A backbencher known for his eagerness to challenge the Republican establishment, DeMint is becoming one of the most influential voices of the conservative rebellion thats shaking up GOP primaries. Tapping an anti-incumbent fervor, the South Carolina lawmaker is a coveted – and feared – endorsement, funneling money and grass-roots energy to long-shot candidates who threaten Washingtons GOP favorites.

His efforts, highly unusual for a freshman, have upset senators on Capitol Hill, where hes viewed by many as an ideologue willing to purge centrist veterans.

I feel a sense of urgency that some of my colleagues dont, he said in an interview. The Republican Party, at least a segment of it within Washington, has increasingly joined the big-government, big-spending, earmarking ranks.

DeMint, 58, has demonstrated an ability to read the conservative electorate. Twice in the past two years hes opposed leading Republicans only to see them abandon the party. His underdog picks in a handful of other races are waging surprisingly strong challenges to mainstream candidates viewed by party leaders as more electable.

His Senate Conservatives Fund so far has steered 622,911 to a half-dozen candidates, both through direct contributions and by bundling collections from its 200,000 members.

DeMint, who says hed rather stand with a committed minority than a big-tent majority, insists hes not trying to pick fights. But his political radar often seems sharper than his diplomacy. His Conservatives Fund ranks sitting senators, for example, and gives Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky a grade of 79 out of 100 – a C – while DeMint gets a perfect score.

Sen. John Cornyn, chairman of the Senate committee to get Republicans elected, said DeMint may be hurting the partys ability to regain power in Washington.

My goal is simply to build our numbers so we can provide checks and balances to single-party power here in Washington, Cornyn said. I think he has a different goal, which is to try to move the Republican conference in a more conservative direction. If that were possible and we were able to win elections all around the country I would be all for it, but I think as a pragmatic matter weve got to nominate Republicans who can get elected in their states.

DeMints combative style is perhaps not what his mother had in mind when she ran the DeMint Academy of Dance and Decorum out of his childhood home after his parents divorced. Its been welcomed, however, by several conservative candidates.

In Florida, DeMint was the first national Republican to back Marco Rubio in the states GOP Senate primary against Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, who was considered a shoo-in at the time. DeMints support and fundraising for Rubio, a tea party favorite, helped spark a bitter internal fight that ultimately pushed Crist to leave the party last month and run as an independent.

It kept us alive, Rubio said of DeMints support, including nearly 350,000 in contributions. Especially early on, it was one of a couple of things that allowed us to survive when very few people thought we had a chance.

Polls in Florida now find a wide-open race, giving Democrats a legitimate shot at winning.

DeMint also was ahead of his party last year in opposing Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, just before the veteran Republican, facing threats from the right, switched to become a Democrat.

Last week, DeMint broke with McConnell in the Republican leaders backyard to support tea party favorite Rand Paul in the Kentucky Senate primary. McConnell and other party leaders have backed GOP Secretary of State Trey Grayson. The primary is May 18.

In other cases, DeMints silence has been telling. He pointedly refused to aid once-popular Republican Bob Bennett, a three-term senator who was defeated Saturday by conservative voters in Utahs GOP convention. After Bennetts loss, DeMint immediately endorsed Mike Lee, one of the two Republicans in a runoff.

DeMint also has declined to endorse Sen. John McCain, the partys 2008 presidential nominee, who faces a challenge from the right and gets a 77 out of 100 from DeMints group despite the Arizona lawmakers fight against the pet-project spending known as earmarks.

DeMint, who worked in marketing and served three House terms before being elected to the Senate in 2004, has long been known as a stubborn conservative.

He has supported partially privatizing Social Security and eliminating income taxes in favor of a flat sales tax, and he once suggested that gays and unwed pregnant women should not teach in public schools. He sometimes criticized former President George W. Bush as too soft – calling Bushs immigration proposal amnesty and seeking to eliminate his 50 billion proposal for global AIDS programs.

DeMint, who rejects suggestions that he wants to challenge McConnell as party leader, argues that Republicans will succeed if they stand by their principles. Although some of his endorsed candidates have faltered – state Sen. Marlin Stutzman lost the Indiana primary last week – most are faring well in polls.

Were gonna find out in November, he said. I dont know that Im always going to be right, but I do know this Im not going to sit on the sidelines again. When we tell people were the conservative party … I want to make sure we have people sitting in those seats who really mean it.

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