Reaganism in Carolina June 10, 2004; Page A12 In a week devoted to honoring Ronald Reagan, South Carolina Republicans rendered their own symbolic tribute at the ballot box. Let's hope folks in Washington are paying attention. In a widely watched GOP Senate primary, voters sent a message that protectionism no longer sells, not even in textile country. Former Governor David Beasley, a protectionist-come-lately, took 37% of the vote in a multi-candidate field. But the news is that he was forced into a runoff, as voters gave 26% and 25% respectively to the two committed free-traders in the race -- Representative Jim DeMint and businessman Thomas Ravenel. Put another way, more than 50% of GOP voters rejected the anti-trade message that Mr. Beasley had made the centerpiece of the campaign. The results were a special rebuke to the textile kings who have long run the Carolina political show. They recruited Mr. Beasley for the Senate race, and their price was his abandonment of his previous free-trade principles. Yet despite his financial advantage, statewide name recognition and voter-recruitment help from textile baron Roger Milliken, 63% of GOP voters cast their ballots for a Beasley alternative. Mr. DeMint's second-place finish means he will face Mr. Beasley in two weeks, and yesterday he got Mr. Ravenel's endorsement. The Congressman now has a good shot at winning the primary, assuming he can raise enough money, as well as the Senate seat in this GOP-leaning state next fall against another protectionist, Democratic Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum. Mr. DeMint's election would also send a message to what has become a nominal Republican Senate "majority" in Washington. He has used his time in the House to promote tax cuts, entitlement reform and ways to trim spending. At a time when the GOP Senate can't even work up the nerve to make permanent the Bush tax cuts that revived the economy, Mr. DeMint's arrival might remind a few time-serving Republicans why they came to Washington in the first place. Meanwhile, Palmetto State voters also rendered a verdict against overspending. GOP Governor Mark Sanford has been waging a war against his own GOP-dominated legislature to rein in their largesse. After the state house overrode 105 of his 106 vetoes, Mr. Sanford showed up at the statehouse carrying two pigs (named "Pork" and "Barrel") to make his point to the voters. On Tuesday, at least two GOP state legislative incumbents lost their primaries, and another three have been forced into run-offs. One of the casualties was House Majority Leader Rick Quinn, who lost to a political newcomer who'd stressed fiscal conservatism. The underlying lesson here is that voters are looking for politicians willing to stand for something. Protectionism may look alluring in the polls, but voters will gladly vote for a candidate who can explain the benefits and importance of competing successfully in the global economy. Voters are also tired of Republicans who claim to be for smaller government but then vote to tax and spend to perpetuate their incumbency. Did we say something about a tribute to Ronald Reagan?