Republican Jim DeMint and Democrat Inez Tenenbaum sparred for nearly an hour Monday night at Wheelwright Auditorium on the Coastal Carolina University campus.

The hall was filled with spectators, but most came with their minds made up. They were wearing either red ``Inez'' stickers or blue ``DeMint'' stickers.

The two are vying to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Ernest ``Fritz'' Hollings.

They stuck to the themes they have promoted throughout the campaign.

DeMint said he is the better choice to help push President Bush's program.

He said Tenenbaum would be a tool of Democrats such as Tom Daschle and Ted Kennedy.

Tenenbaum said she is a Democrat but an independent one who will represent the people of the state, not her party.

``It's not whose team you're on; it's whose side you're on,'' Tenenbaum said.

She criticized DeMint for his support of a plan that abolishes the income tax system in favor of one that would impose a 23 percent sales tax on all goods and services.

DeMint said that is just one proposal to get rid of the income tax system and that Tenenbaum favors keeping it in place.

``The dumbest thing we can do is keep the tax system we got,'' he said. ``She has no plan.''

Tenenbaum said the tax system needs to be streamlined, but she would not replace it.

Both promised to support tourism, but DeMint stressed that he voted against a highway bill that has money for Interstate 73 because it was too larded with pork.

``We have an opportunity to build probably the best and busiest airport in the state right here in Myrtle Beach,'' DeMint said. He said he supports federal money for the facility.

Tenenbaum said she supports the airport, I-73 and trade-center funding as well.

``I want to make sure tourism is looked at as an industry,'' she said.

Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark Bride, a Senate candidate who lost in the Republican primary, watched but would not say who he favors.

``I'm just seeing who I'm going to be running against in six years,'' he said.

State Rep. Tom Keegan, R-Surfside Beach, said he is prejudiced but was impressed with DeMint's performance.

Walt Standish, a Tenenbaum supporter, said that he was impressed with how well the event was handled and that it was fair to both candidates.

Contact ZANE WILSON at 520-0397 or zwilson@thesunnews.com.