| DeMint touts ties to Bush AIKEN - U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint continued to tie his U.S. Senate campaign to President Bush and national politics Wednesday, telling listeners at an Aiken rally that his victory is crucial for the Republican Party to maintain power and continue its push for conservative values. The GOP now holds a slim 51-48 edge over the Democrats in the Senate - Sen. James Jeffords of Vermont is an independent - and South Carolina has become a key battleground state for the party, which would gain a seat if Mr. DeMint wins the post now held by retiring Democrat Ernest "Fritz" Hollings. Mr. DeMint's Democratic opponent, state Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum, has erased his once-commanding lead and made the race a statistical dead heat in some polls. "What happens in South Carolina affects every state. It's not rocket science," said U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of several popular Republicans who is touring the state with Mr. DeMint as Tuesday's election nears. Mr. DeMint, a U.S. congressman from the Upstate, is selling himself as a potential ally of Mr. Graham who would support Mr. Bush on important decisions. He also cites the likely appointment of two justices to the Supreme Court in coming years. "Are we going to give South Carolina two votes, or are we going to send someone who will cancel out Lindsey's vote?" Mr. DeMint asked more than 50 GOP faithful who gathered on Newberry Street. The race has narrowed in recent weeks as Mrs. Tenenbaum relentlessly attacked her opponent's call for a 23 percent national sales tax to replace the federal income tax and Mr. DeMint made statements that gays and unwed mothers shouldn't teach in public schools. By and large, though, his supporters are looking past the remarks. "I don't think they were really that far out of line," supporter Tracy Borders said of the comments. Unlike Mr. DeMint, Mrs. Tenenbaum has distanced herself from the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, John Kerry, describing herself as an independent thinker. She did, however, campaign Tuesday with the man she's trying to replace, Mr. Hollings, and Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, also a Democrat. Campaign spokeswoman Kay Packett said it was "laughable to describe Mrs. Tenenbaum as a liberal" when she supports the death penalty, President Bush's proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and his handling of the war in Iraq. "It seems like the only reason Jim DeMint tells people to vote for him is because he'll support President Bush," Ms. Packett said. "I don't think South Carolinians want that. I think they want an independent thinker." Reach Josh Gelinas at (803) 648-1395, ext. 113 or josh.gelinas@augustachronicle.com.
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