Republicans who didn’t see a winner in the bunch got what they had been hoping for Wednesday when former Gov. David Beasley entered the race for the U.S. Senate.

Calling the election the most important in recent history, Beasley declared himself the Republicans’ best chance to win the seat they haven’t held in more than a century.

“This is a race we cannot afford to lose,” he told a crowded news conference attended by legislators, former staffers and supporters — including his wife and four children.

Beasley hopes to succeed Democrat Fritz Hollings, who is retiring after 38 years in office. The contest is critical. Control of the Senate is at stake. The GOP now enjoys a 51-49 advantage.

GOP officials had expressed concern about whether any of the Republicans already on the June 8 primary ballot could beat Democratic favorite Inez Tenenbaum, the state education superintendent who received more votes in 2002 than any other statewide candidate.

Former Lt. Gov. Bob Peeler was approached, but he declined. That prompted Republicans to pursue Beasley. Columbia consultant Richard Quinn conducted a poll showing that only Beasley had a chance of beating Tenenbaum.

“The field before Beasley entered was not murderer’s row. They were not heavy hitters Nobody excited anyone particularly,” said Francis Marion University political scientist Neal Thigpen, a GOP activist.

“Beasley, with some prodding, saw an opportunity and jumped right to the top of the pack. He saw an opportunity where he could steal the prize.”

Nationally Republicans are targeting the seat in their effort to widen their slim Senate majority. Democrats are desperate to hold on to it and four other Southern Senate seats for which incumbent Democrats are not seeking re-election.

Both parties are expected to pour millions of dollars into the race.

“Our nation needs a majority in the Senate willing to support our president in these dangerous times,” Beasley said. “If this election falls to a Democrat, Republicans could lose the majority next year, and the consequences of that loss truly would be catastrophic for America.

“Losing is not an option.”

University of Virginia political scientist says the race “leans Republican” in a state that has been moving toward being solidly behind the GOP for years.

Four other Republicans are seeking the nomination. The last Republican to win the seat held it during Reconstruction — more than a century ago, said Hastings Wyman, editor and publisher of the Southern Political Report.

Beasley, elected in 1994, served one term as governor. His opposition to video poker and his perceived waffling on removing the Confederate flag from the State House dome cost him re-election. He recalled those stands Wednesday.

“Looking back I should have done a better job communicating our positive message. But in my heart I know I did the right thing. These are lessons in politics you only learn from adversity.”

Asked about the flag Wednesday, he said that issue was behind him and he supports the compromise that removed the banner from the State House dome and placed it at a Confederate memorial on the Capitol grounds.

“I’m older and hopefully a little wiser because of the path I’ve traveled,” Beasley said.

His rivals for the GOP nomination welcomed Beasley into the fray, saying they looked forward to healthy debates on the issues.

Beasley will outline the issues he plans to stress when he launches his campaign later this month.

Reach Bandy at (803) 771-8648 or lbandy@thestate.com Staff writer Lauren Markoe contributed to this report.