There's a reason for adages like, "Don't put all of your eggs in one basket." Why? Because the advice they offer often turns out true.

In the recent election, South Carolina Democrats seem to have put all of their hopes for the party's future in the U.S. Senate candidacy of State Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum. Now that she didn't win, the party is in a state of disarray that may last for years.

Sure, Democrats picked up one seat in each chamber of the General Assembly in the elections. But they're so far from retaking power in the House that the gain is immaterial. In the Senate, things aren't much better.

Historian Walter Edgar last week told The Post and Courier in Charleston that the party wasn't dead, but added, "I think it's safe to say the Democratic Party is now relegated to permanent minority status."

While state Party Chairman Joe Erwin says the party isn't rolling over, Tuesday's election results reflect a remarkable turnaround for state Democrats, who ruled the state's political roost for most of the 20th century. To get back into South Carolina's political game, Democrats need to start getting the basics of politics right again. They have to have a serious internal regrouping that takes into account several factors:

Stand for something. It's not good enough to run candidates whose main message is, "Vote for me; I'm not Republican." The party can't be "Republican-light." It needs to get back to real values of fiscal security, social justice and boosting the public good. It needs to translate its national roots from the days of Franklin Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy in a way that means something to South Carolinians. In other words, state Democrats need to capitalize on the kinds of things that made John Edwards popular here earlier in the year during the presidential primary process.

Stop missing opportunities. In the recent state elections, Democrats missed a huge opportunity to define GOP Gov. Mark Sanford. While the governor is very popular with people across the state, most don't realize he has accomplished little in the last two years. If the Democratic Party had been thinking past this election -- and not put all of its eggs in the Inez basket -- it would have developed a unified message for its Statehouse candidates to hammer again and again to start eroding the Sanford image. Now with Democrats in disarray, they don't have the credibility or political capital to do much about Sanford. Bottom line: it looks like Sanford will be in the governor's mansion for the next six years.

Stick to a focused message. By having a focused message and sticking to it, the party can build the foundation for future successes. If it doesn't have focus, its members will be flapping in the breeze.

Work together. Party leaders should start strategies to promote party unity. If there's something they can learn from Republicans, it's that they should use the power of their like interests to promote their values. By acting as a bloc vote, they'll earn more power and respect over time. Democrats are known for not penalizing members who "do their own thing." To continue such a practice will allow the party to keep eroding.

Rebuild the machine. On local levels across the state, Democrats remain contenders. But the state party uses old precinct systems to try to keep the party alive. It needs to throw away 19th century organizational models and rebuild using new frameworks that incorporate, rely and value input from local leaders.

Some who read this column might criticize it for promoting Democrats. That's not what it is intended to do. Instead, it's a clarion call for Democrats to start pulling together and working in a unified manner because the state's whole political system will work better if there is a real two-party system.

If one party monopolizes power, corruption ensues. If two parties work together to fashion real compromises on major issues, better governance ensues.

South Carolina Democrats need to get out of the ditch, stop crying about the recent elections and move forward. It will make our state healthier.