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Article published Jun 21, 2004
Beasley, DeMint trade verbal jabs in final debate

JENNIFER HOLLAND
Associated Press

CONWAY -- Former Gov. David Beasley and Congressman Jim DeMint lashed out at each other's character and political records Sunday night in the final televised debate in the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.With voters returning to the polls Tuesday, there wasn't time to be nice.The two seasoned politicians sat across from each other and sparred about the recent barrage of negative campaign ads and issues such as the federal deficit, health care and trade -- the biggest difference between the two candidates.Both accused each other of lobbing the first attacks since they were forced into a runoff after the primary winnowed the six-way GOP race two weeks ago. Beasley was the top voter-getter with 37 percent, followed by DeMint with 26 percent.The race had been fairly tame, compared with runoff elections in the past, but DeMint and Beasley came out swinging on Father's Day.DeMint said his campaign pointed out Beasley had changed his position on several critical issues, including where the Confederate flag should fly, and from being a supporter of free trade to a protectionist."He's criticizing me and the president for trying to keep jobs in this country, to try to do the things to make trade fair," said DeMint, who has taken heat as a strong supporter of free trade in a state that has lost thousands of manufacturing jobs in the past three years.Beasley countered that DeMint has "this self-righteous perspective as if he's never broken his word," saying the three-term congressman vowed to never take money from political action committees but has raked in $400,000 for his Senate bid."Leaders change perspectives from time to time because circumstances change," Beasley said. "I took some tough issues on when Iwas governor."Beasley was unapologetic for his efforts to remove the Civil War banner from atop the Statehouse and ban video gambling. The flag eventually came down and video gambling was outlawed, but only after Beasley was ousted from office.DeMint "is trying to bring back the most divisive issue this state has ever had," Beasley said. "I think the voters in this state want that issue behind us and here we are dragging it back up for political gain -- that's wrong."When asked about the flag, DeMint did make an appeal for some of the voters who abandoned Beasley over the issue in the 1998 gubernatorial election."I think it should stay right where it is and I don't think the state Legislature or governor should spend anymore time on it," DeMint said of the flag, which flies on Statehouse grounds.Beasley said DeMint has failed to do his job as a congressman, missing half of the votes so far this year in Washington."If you don't show up for work 50 percent of the time, you don't get a promotion," Beasley said.DeMint said none of the those issues have hinged his vote, and he would not step down from office to campaign for Senate."I've been on the phone with the speaker. He knows if he needs me I'll be there," DeMint said.Beasley said other candidates have resigned to campaign, including Sen. Bob Dole, who stepped down to run for president in 1996."It's how you view your responsibility and integrity for the office," Beasley said.Beasley again had to defend the comments he in made in 1995 while talking with students at a Rock Hill high school. He had claimed that he ran the 100-yard dash in 9.5 seconds, a near world record; that he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds, faster than a prime college running back,When asked about comments, the 47-year-old chuckled: "I've slowed down quite a bit."Beasley said he simply wanted to grab the kids' attention, saying everyone makes mistakes in a speech.The last jab of the night landed when Beasley was asked whether he would support DeMint if he were the winner of the runoff."I look forward to sitting down with Jim and talking about the future of South Carolina," Beasley said."That didn't sound like a straight answer to me," said DeMint, who added he would support Beasley if he wins the nomination.The winner of Tuesday's race will face Democrat Inez Tenenbaum in the general election.