Sen. DeMint raises nearly $533,000
By JIM DAVENPORT
COLUMBIA — South Carolina's junior U.S. Senator, Jim DeMint, reported Wednesday that he's raised nearly $533,000 for his 2010 re-election campaign.
DeMint's campaign said it had $2.6 million on hand at the end of the second quarter and DeMint said worries about the nation's direction are driving donations.
Sen. Jim DeMint has no announced challenger for his GOP seat.
"What's really fueling things here is just growing alarm about the direction the new administration the Democratic majority are taking this country," DeMint said in a telephone interview.
Still, "it's a horrible environment to raise money in," DeMint said.
Republicans in South Carolina know that better than most. The state's economy is a wreck and Gov. Mark Sanford's tearful confession of an affair has left the state GOP scrambling to cope. The party last week agreed to censure Sanford, but not call for his resignation, after a telephone meeting that lasted four hours.
Now DeMint and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham are filling in some of the vacuum created by Sanford's fall.
"We're going to make sure we earn that," DeMint said.
DeMint notes he is not trying to draw attention to himself in that role. Still, "if folks like that kind of leadership, I'm pleased," he said.
DeMint has no announced GOP challenger.
Mike Ruckes of Summerville has announced plans to run in the Democratic Primary and state Sen. Brad Hutto of Orangeburg is considering a bid.
Ruckes is a political unknown. Hutto is a lawyer who is expected to be able get a campaign going with his own money.
In 2008, Democrats found themselves with a nominee to take on Graham, who was a political unknown without the ability to raise money for a credible challenge.
Democrat Bob Conley had started 2008 as a Republican backing U.S. Rep. Ron Paul in the state GOP presidential primary. Conley mustered 42 percent of the vote in the race with Graham after spending $15,202 to win the statewide primary.
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Comments
Luna (anonymous) says...
You are fueling the fear mongering alarm. Do you have ambitions for something higher that just S.C., Mr. DeMint?
Why don't you try doing something for the citizens of the state you represent instead of worrying about any future political office?
And where are all the voices that scream to get rid of incumbents?
July 16, 2009 at 9:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
humms (anonymous) says...
what fear mongering are you referring to? so what if he does have higher ambitions, and do YOU believe in term limits?
July 16, 2009 at 10:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Luna (anonymous) says...
Heck yes I believe in term limits!
Because he acts like he is doing something for his state and he is not!
Fear mongering over healthcare, duh!
In this state of all others states (unemployment at 12.3%) people need affordable healthcare options rather than the emergency room that drives up the prices for everyone else.
July 16, 2009 at 11:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
signseeker17 (anonymous) says...
I think I know what luna means: Repubs are keeping up an incessant cry that the country is going down the tubes because of Democrats; it's because they're out of power and it's making them crazy. They're trying to scare the voters into voting for THEM. Usually, when certain people don't like the government they start yelling "throw the bums out!" (but in this case that would INCLUDE DeMint). So there's a little hypocrisy for those certain people to NOT be yelling that here, perhaps.
Instead of trying to do anything for his state, he's more driven by the political vacuum left by Sanford's demise, and worried about his OWN REELECTION chances in 2010. Not exactly higher ambition.
Term limits for Congress (DeMint is a US senator) would require changing the Constitution. I don't think HE wants to see that happen when he's getting ready to run for reelection. Whether you "believe in" them or not (they're not a religion, I don't think), it's a major undertaking to amend the Constitution. Not enough votes for it in either party or either house.
July 16, 2009 at 11:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nopartisan_noproblem (anonymous) says...
Does that mean we could get pelosi, Dodd, mccain, kennedy, graham, and all the other no-goods out. Not like they would vote for their own exit out of power. It'll never happen.
"it's because they're out of power and it's making them crazy."
Wouldn't it be great if neither side had power. Hell, how about their be no sides. On the ballads there would be no (D) or (R), and people would actually have to educate themselves on who they would vote for. Now that is a very logical, yet Utopian idea.
July 16, 2009 at 11:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
NakedYoga (anonymous) says...
Jim DeMint is a clueless dunderhead. Jim DeMint is 50% of South Carolina's representation in the Senate, but he is 100% retarded.
July 16, 2009 at 11:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Luna (anonymous) says...
We don't have the power to kick out no parts list.
July 16, 2009 at 11:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
High_Gravity (anonymous) says...
Another straight ticket shoe-in with the big R next to his name.
Bravo South Carolina, Bravo.
July 16, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Sandy37 (anonymous) says...
You know SC was better represented when Hollings was in than the two you now have. Maybe a little diversity would help. I watched Graham at the Supreme Court hearing and would be hard to decide which one to replace. Both have a certain dull drawl that sounds stupid.
July 16, 2009 at 2:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mkris (anonymous) says...
I luv Miss Lin-say
I wuv Dumb-mint.
July 16, 2009 at 3:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scvoter1 (anonymous) says...
While we were protecting our morals and ideals (flags, what constitutes a family, etc.), other states were protecting their land, jobs and benefits for workers.
Other States in the majority have changed from the Republican Party of "no" to the Democratic Party to protect their land, jobs and benefits for workers.
SC needs to get on board to protect its citizens.
What can it hurt?
I am old enough that I remember decades ago the State voted out the Democrats and brought in the Republicans to try to improve the citizens' lot in South Carolina.
OK, time has proven the Republican party was not the answer. It did not work out in the people's favor as SC has almost the highest unemployment in the country, our education system reveals our children are rated near the bottom of the ladder on standardized tests, we have let the Republicans give away our access to the beaches and public lands, etc. and for some reason we continue to support them.
Think about it - Let's make another change, throw the Republicans out and give the Democrats a chance to better our lots in life.
I made the decision to start voting Democrat based on many, many years of experience in SC. My analyses is that if everyone here would smarten up and vote Democrat, SC would be a better place to live.
July 16, 2009 at 8:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lowcountrydawg (anonymous) says...
DeMent/Palin would make a great 2012 ticket!
July 16, 2009 at 9:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mkris (anonymous) says...
Dumb-Mint, Caraboo Barbie and Gigalo Sanford.
Now thats a team
July 16, 2009 at 9:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CHRISJIII (anonymous) says...
Demint is an idiot who has done nothing to better this state. He has proven to be an embarassment on several levels though. He is one of the reasons that the rest of the country views southerners as ignorant hicks.
July 17, 2009 at 11:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Counselor1 (anonymous) says...
I didn't vote for Obama, and don't favor his and the Fed. Reserve policies ($12.8 trillion loan offers to corporations, $787 billion "stimulus.") But I'm appalled at DeMint's comments about breaking Obama. One of the purposes of our Constitution is to promote the General Welfare. How do you do that by defeating extension of health care and breaking the President of the United States?
I live in Pennsylvania and have vacationed in South Carolina. I just want someone among you to know that I never will again unless and until DeMint is out!
July 21, 2009 at 10:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CharlesinCharleston (anonymous) says...
With his comments that indicate that he seeks to "break" President Obama and that he seeks to force Obama "to his Waterloo"...DeMint has forever lost all credibility as a legislator.
Instead of working tirelessly with all of our elected officials in Washington to try to get things done, as best he can, DeMint is spending his time engaged in traitorous activities designed to undermine the president, rather than persuade him to his own
line of thinking.
Upon repeated attempts to reach his local office on East Bay Street in the Custom's House, on Tuesday, July 21, we could only reach a five-day-old recording for "Courtnay in constituent services" which said, "..This is Friday, July 17th, I'll be out of the office all day, so please leave a message. It wasn't until we called the D.C. office to inform them of this incompetence and indifference, that it was updated.
DeMint is an embarrassment as a senator from S.C. and virutally useless when it comes to constituent services, something for which our former Senator's, both Thurmond and Hollings were renowned.
Sanford, DeMint, Graham, Ravenel, what has the Republican Party of S.C. come to?
July 21, 2009 at 4:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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