(Columbia) Jan. 14, 2004 - Former South Carolina Governor David Beasley says he will join the race for the seat Senator Ernest Hollings (D) has held since 1966 and is giving up next year, "I am today announcing that I have decided to become a candidate for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate."

Beasley says he began thinking of joining the race after a poll commissioned by Columbia political consultant Richard Quinn showed the former governor could beat any of the four Republicans currently seeking the GOP nomination.

Other Republicans seeking the nomination are former Attorney General Charlie Condon, Fourth District Representative Jim DeMint, Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride and Charleston real estate developer Thomas Ravenel. Democrats in the race are state Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum and Camden native Marcus Belk.

Beasley says he missed public service and wants to ensure a Republican majority in the Senate to support President Bush. He says he is the Republican Party's best chance if they want to take the Senate seat being vacated Hollings, "I honestly believe my candidacy offers us the best opportunity for victory."

Beasley, who announced his plans at a Columbia new conference Wednesday afternoon at the Townhouse Hotel, served one term as governor after he was elected in 1994. He lost to Democrat Jim Hodges in 1998 in a race that centered on his decisions to fight video poker and to try to move the Confederate battle flag from the State House dome.

Political analyst Dr. Blease Graham says there was one major reason he lost that campaign, "Beasley lost the group that supported the flag, if for nothing else, because he seemed to flip-flop on the issue." Graham doesn't believe the '98 loss will keep him from becoming a US senator, "Memory is generally short in political life." 

Beasley says he plans to launch a statewide campaign kick-off tour later this month. He did not talk about any issues on Wednesday, saying there will be plenty of time for that.

The 46-year-old Beasley has since taught at Harvard University, done missionary work and received a Profile in Courage Award from the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum for his work to move the Confederate flag from the State House.

The four Republicans took early shots at Tenenbaum when the five faced each other in their first debate on Tuesday. Tenenbaum interpreted the intense focus on her to mean she was the candidate to beat. Belk did not participate in the forum. Beasley says he will attend a Senate debate in Columbia on Wednesday but will not participate.

The 81-year-old Hollings, the Palmetto State's senior senator upon the retirement of the late Strom Thurmond, will have served 38 years when his term ends in early 2005. He was re-elected seven times, the most recent in 1998.

Updated 7:48pm by BrettWitt