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_____ Top stories _____ • It's Bannister vs. Shain for House seat • Michael Hollings decides not to run • DeMint endorses Floyd for state GOP primary

Republican U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint jumped into next year's GOP primary for superintendent of education Tuesday, endorsing Spartanburg's Karen Floyd.

DeMint, a former U.S. House member from Greenville, said Floyd would "put aside politics in shifting the educational system" as a superintendent who would not protect the system but prepare students to compete in a global economy.

During her announcement tour in April, Floyd, 42, vowed to shake up the state's educational establishment.

The endorsement came one week after two-term Democrat Inez Tenenbaum announced that she would not seek re-election, leaving Democrats with but one statewide incumbent on the ballot. DeMint defeated Tenenbaum in November to win the seat of retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. Ernest F. Hollings.

The state primary is June 13.

Dan T. Hallman, a retired Anderson educator and Floyd's only primary opponent, said DeMint exercised his privilege and "I'm a little bit disappointed, but I'm in this race to the end. I was under the impression incumbents should not support candidates in primaries."

Katon Dawson, state Republican Party chairman, said he didn't encourage DeMint to get involved, but "we're going to have a primary season regardless of who endorses who."

DeMint dismissed his entry into the party's nominating process, something incumbents tend to steer away from, saying Floyd's "new concepts" are needed.

"She has the key ability to work with the governor, Legislature and the delegation at the federal level," he said.

Floyd is a lawyer and chief executive officer of The Palladian Group, which provides marketing, development and technology services to international clients. Floyd was chairman of the Spartanburg County Council from 1998 through 2002.

DeMint's endorsement was made during a tour with Floyd of the just-opened charter school Langston Middle School off Woodruff Road.

Floyd said that as superintendent, she would be "an advocate" for children in both public and private schools.