By Andrew Dys The Herald
(Published October 8‚ 2004)
As President Bush and John Kerry prepare to face off in their second presidential debate tonight, Republicans admit U.S. Senate candidate Jim DeMint is counting on Bush's popularity in South Carolina to push him over the top Nov. 2.
But Democrats say DeMint's coattail effect could be blunted by the congressman's controversial comments over the past few days about hiring gays and pregnant unwed mothers to teach in public schools.
DeMint apologized for saying unwed mothers should not be hired by public schools. He also said in a Sunday debate with Democrat Inez Tenenbaum that gays and lesbians shouldn't be hired as teachers. Democrats are seizing the opportunity to say DeMint is a "with us or against us candidate."
Local DeMint supporters say he was man enough to apologize and voters should respect his candor.
DeMint's words -- even with the apology -- show that he is an intolerant Republican who, like Bush, demands voters either play ball on their team or not play at all, said Jim Morton, York County Democratic Party chairman.
"This is another example of their extreme right-wing ideology," Morton said. "They have a policy of excluding anybody who does not agree with them."
But the hullabaloo over DeMint's comments won't play with South Carolina voters, 5th District GOP Chairman Hamp Atkins said.
"That might sell well in Massachusetts, but it won't sell in South Carolina," Atkins said.
Further, neither Bush nor DeMint's chances hinge on Bush's debate performance tonight, Atkins said.
Turnout is crucial to DeMint's success, and DeMint is counting heavily on the effects of Bush's popularity, said Ralph Norman, a coordinator of DeMint's York County campaign. Norman won the Republican primary for the state House District 48 in June and is unopposed in the Nov. 2 election. DeMint is a "What you see is what you get candidate who pulls no punches," said Norman, host of DeMint's York County events.
"That shows what he's made of," Norman said of DeMint's apology. "He's about substance, not style."
Bush won South Carolina convincingly in 2000 and is expected to win handily again Nov. 2. The connection between Bush and DeMint stretches to campaigning and fund-raising stops by first lady Laura Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and former President George H.W. Bush.
"It is almost as if DeMint and George Bush are running on the same ticket," Atkins said.
But Morton pointed out that Cheney's lesbian daughter could not be hired as a teacher in South Carolina if Jim DeMint had his way. Further, the late Strom Thurmond -- who had an illegitimate daughter -- wouldn't be able to teach school if DeMint's ideas were followed.
DeMint's campaign said the latest poll gives him a double-digit lead, but Tenenbaum's polling last week showed the race almost a dead heat.
The undecided voters targeted in the presidential debate are the same swing voters who could decide the Senate race, said John Holder of the York County Democratic Party.
Andrew Dys •329-4065