COLUMBIA, S.C. - U.S. Senate candidates Jim DeMint and Inez Tenenbaum lobbed barbs at each other Thursday over the issue of President Bush's federal judicial nominees and job losses in the state.

"President Bush's highly qualified judicial nominees deserve an up or down vote," DeMint said at a press conference held in Greenville.

The Republican congressman, running to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, was joined by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., at the event.

DeMint also said Tenenbaum has not told South Carolina voters her position on the matter, according to a press release.

Tenenbaum, the Democratic state education superintendent, responded by saying DeMint was trying to shift the public's attention away from the announcement that Greenville-based Delta Woodside Industries will close a 361-worker textile plant in Piedmont.

"I'm on the record. I want all nominees to have an up-or-down vote," Tenenbaum said in a telephone interview. "He's trying to talk federal judges on a day when people are worrying about how they will make ends meet."

Democrats in the Senate have blocked votes on some of the White Houses most-desired judicial nominations, echoing moves during President Clinton's tenure when Republicans would not allow votes on his nominees to the federal bench.

DeMint and Tenenbaum are vying to replace retiring Democrat Hollings, who has held the seat for nearly 40 years.