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Top 5 People Who Could Replace Resigning GOP Sen. Jim DeMint

Dec. 6, 2012 12:19pm Mytheos Holt

Following the surprise announcement that Tea Party stalwart Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) is retiring from his post to run the Heritage Foundation, Republicans are faced with an awkward reality — that is, that whatever the merits of DeMint’s choice, it leaves the GOP in the position of defending two Senate seats in the same state, in the same year (2014).

In a year which the GOP has seen – with some justification – as their best chance at taking back the Senate, one more vulnerability is not necessarily a welcome development. This is especially so when you consider that DeMint himself had proven practically bulletproof in previous elections against, in some cases, laughably poor candidates.

Top 5 People Who Could Replace South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint

Jim DeMint (Photo Credit: AP)

And then there is the fact that South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham – never a particularly popular officeholder with the party’s conservative base – is also up for reelection the same year, and could face a bruising primary. Given these two facts, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley faces a very difficult choice in trying to find someone who could retain DeMint’s ironclad electability, while also being someone who could avoid a divisive and bruising primary in 2014. Such candidates are rare in the best of circumstances, but several names could easily rise to the top of the pack. Below are the top five picks Haley could make to replace DeMint.

Tim Scott (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

1. Rep. Tim Scott

Why? In a year where Republicans are increasingly fretting about their capacity to reach minorities, Tim Scott is a clear aberration. That is, he is the only African American congressman in the GOP. The fact that he survived a bruising primary battle in his first run for Congress against Paul Thurmond, son of infamous Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond, makes him a battle-tested prospect. The South Carolina establishment is already lining up behind him, and most observers view him as the clear favorite.

Why not? He’s been in Congress for a comparatively short time, and the support of the establishment in a state as conservative as South Carolina could prove to be the kiss of death, if Haley wants to avoid a primary.

Nikki Haley (Photo Credit: ABC News)

2. Governor Nikki Haley

Why? Haley would also be up for reelection in 2014, is lagging in the polls, and would leave a more than capable hand behind her in the Governor’s mansion in the form of Lieutenant Gov. Glenn McConnell if she decided to become Senator. It would be a useful rise in national profile for the youngest Governor in America, and as another strong minority candidate, she’d be able to offer a high profile face for Republicans within a demographic that they desperately need.

Why not? Haley has given few signs that she wants a job in Washington, and may calculate that a vanity move like this could hurt her, or McConnell himself.

Mick Mulvaney (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

3. Rep. Mick Mulvaney

Why? While Scott and Haley are establishment picks, Mulvaney is being talked up by the grassroots — especially fiscal conservatives. Combine this with the fact that he is the first Republican to hold his seat since 1883 and one of the GOP’s “young gun” success stories from 2010, and Haley may calculate that he’s the kind of successor who would keep DeMint’s ardent conservative fans the most happy. Lindsey Graham could also put pressure on Haley to appoint someone who otherwise would prove to be a headache in a primary challenge against him, and Mulvaney fits that bill to a tee.

Why not? He lacks the diversity advantage of Scott and Haley, without any clear experience advantage over Scott. It’s also unclear how much sway the grassroots will have over the Governor.

Henry McMaster (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

4. Former South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster

Why? McMaster would be an unusual choice, given his comparative low profile. However, speculation has suggested that Haley might pick him as nothing but a placeholder, with no intention of having him run to hold office for the full remainder of DeMint’s term. This would save the South Carolina GOP the trouble of having to defend two sitting Senators against primary challenges, and would also throw the 2014 race for DeMint’s seat wide open, lessening the chance of a credible challenge to Graham.

Why not? A bruising primary for DeMint’s open seat in 2014 could leave the seat a vulnerable pickup for Democrats, which Haley would presumably want to avoid.

Trey Gowdy (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

5. Rep. Trey Gowdy

Why? Gowdy has one feature that would mark him as a clear successor to DeMint: His acid-tongued rebukes of the administration. Like Mulvaney, he is young, though unlike Mulvaney, he’s already achieved some fame on conservative blogs for his outspoken advocacy. This makes him a riskier pick, but also one that would almost certainly keep South Carolina’s conservatives happy. He’s a wild card, and if Haley decides she needs her base, he shouldn’t be ignored.

Why not? A wild card is still a long shot, and Gowdy lacks both Mulvaney’s evidence of statewide electoral appeal and Haley/Scott’s diversity appeal. He’s a less credible threat to Lindsey Graham than someone like Mulvaney as well. This is also still a pick by a state party, and fiery rhetoric is little use.

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Comments (85)

grayling646
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:22pm
I wonder if Gov. Haley will consider Alvin Green.

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- HumbleMan
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:32pm
  She probably considers him for what he is, someone as dumb as a bag of rocks. Or did you mean something else?
  
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- grayling646
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:41pm
  …ummm…I was being what you call sarcastic…relax.
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 3:56pm
  why does Nikki Haley spell her name like she expects to play bass for Motley Crue some day?
  
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- RedHarley
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 6:51pm
  I had a lot of respect for Jim DeMint, until I heard him on Rush today. He was asked about Harry Reid, and said that “Harry Reid is a friend of mine, Harry Reid IS NOT THE PROBLEM.”
  
  Are you freaking kidding me ? That is why I am DONE with the Republicans. Screw the parties. It is obvious that congress is just a big club. There really is no difference between these guys. They might as well put Van Jones in DeMint’s seat as far as I am concerned.
  
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- Marine25
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:19pm
  He’ll go over to Heritage and recruit superpac monies to sponsor more wackjob candidates like Richard Mourdock, Ken Buck, Sharon Angle and the non-witch Christine O’Donnell to lose easy seats. This is not good news for Republicans. He is going to drive hard to the right as he’s convinced America is moving to the right as evidenced, I can only presume, from the shellackings in ’08 and ’12. He can be a hero here at the Blaze, but politicians like Demint and West and Palin are scaring the crap out of moderate voters and driving them out of the party. Although it seems like driving voters away is what tea-partiers actually want to do. Then they cry that conservatives ‘stayed home on election day. If your petulant, rude, insulting, bigoted child can’t make any friends, they shouldn’t cry when nobody comes to their birthday party.
  
  Report this comment
- pissantno.10
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 8:12pm
  marine you got it boobala, we dont want morons like you in the party or the game or on this planet . move back to space where you belong, by by
  
  Report this comment
Brother Winston Smith
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:21pm
Who cares? ANOTHER FAKE-conservative republican. Nothing more.

The Constitution Party.
The Libertarian Party.
State nullification.
NOW!

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- grayling646
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:33pm
  Hey Bro. I see you’re still as boring as heII.
  
  Report this comment
- Chuck Stein
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:39pm
  ANOTHER Party? Really? We don’t need a “third party” — we need NO parties. What if everyone registered as a Democrat? How would that play out do you think?
  
  Report this comment
- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:48pm
  BRO’ WINSTON’s been away at the Ron Paul inspired Fall Encampment for Obama Enablers.
  
  During the Summer Encampment, they were instructed and encouraged to make lists comparing Romney and Obama (looong lists) and giving the edge to Obama.
  
  “Obama / Romney… One In The Same And Isn’t Ron Paul And Lists, Long Lists” was the Encampment course title.
  
  BRO’ WINSTON is back to give us a peek of what he has is in store for us before winter sets in…
  
  Report this comment
- UNIX_Techie
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 8:00pm
  We don’t need more parties. Look at other countries that have all these different parties and the party with the most votes is in charge, sort of, but they have to deal with the freaks in the other parties so nothing worth while gets done. And then if the major party does or says something the other parties don’t like then the minor parties bail out and the whole government falls apart, because they don’t have a clear majority, forcing new elections.
  
  Report this comment
- pissantno.10
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 8:05pm
  ron cant make the barbecue next weekend see you soon
  
  Report this comment
Independent4ever
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:17pm
None of the above The republicans lose a good man and now they want to replace him with a so called teaparty person…Dick Armey was suppose to be teaparty too. From what I can see, Republican party = extinct.

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- PATTY HENRY
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:57pm
  I’d love for Haley to appoint Tim Scott and then run against Lindsey Graham herself!
  
  Sen. DeMint did a great job for our country and I can understand why he doesn’t want to slosh around in that man-made sewer – at least now.
  
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- pissantno.10
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 8:17pm
  why do you care your a commie pinko traitor you should be happy
  
  Report this comment
profg1
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:04pm
Constitutional conservatives NEED to get Gov. Haley to appoint State Senator Tom Davis to take retiring U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint’s place. I can’t imagine a more staunch defender of Constitutionally-limited government to fill Sen. DeMint’s shoes.

Contact Gov. Haley at http://www.governor.sc.gov/ContactUs/Pages/index.aspx and tell her: “Please replace Sen. DeMint with a like-minded conservative: please appoint Sen. Tom Davis to his seat.”

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- YourMorpheous
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 3:36pm
  I was just about to post the same. Tom Davis is absolutely the right guy.
  
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- DRSAVAGE24
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:56pm
  Agreed, Tom Davis should be the choice. Anyone else bothered by people like Hannity and the Blaze pushing certain candidates because of their race? Hannity especially, he was doing it today with Tim Scott and he did it during the Republican primary pushing Marco Rubio to be VP. Doesn’t get into what they bring to the table with their voting records, just that they’re minorities, apparently. Sorry, I don’t agree with affirmative action. Give me the best candidate, one who will protect our liberties and tackle the debt, not a token just so the talk radio crowd can spout off that, “We’re not racist! We sent a (insert race here) man/woman to the U.S. Senate.” Principles over skin color and race, how about that, Hannity? You must think blacks, hispanics, etc. are really really dumb. Give them some respect. If I can see that you’re pandering, don’t you think they can see it as well?
  
  Of course Hannity and the Blaze wouldn’t mention Davis. He’s one of those Ron Paul supporters who doesn’t just talk about limited government, he’d act on it.
  
  Report this comment
- RhonLips
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:44am
  Have any of you researched Tim Scott? And race shouldn’t have anything to do with this appointment as it wouldn’t if it were not reported by the media!
  
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ms.sue
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:44pm
um,let me guess.probably another moderate republican.what is the difference between a democrat and a moderate republican?NONE !the GOP is dead in the water.

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paco51
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:40pm
Do you blame Mr.De Mint after all the progressive leader of the house isn’t a tea party backer. Boehner dosn’t have the balls to stand up against that person call the prez. I would leave also. God bless you Mr.De Mint and thanks for your service. keep the faith people.

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- jman-6
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:05pm
  DeMint was a Senator
  
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watchdogmom
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:26pm
we just went through yet another fraudulent election, although the media and D.C. would like to move on as though “nothing here to see”. So many issues wrong –right now. Hopefully Mr.Demint will get the Heritage Foundation to stand with the “Constitution” for real. As they have been absent on this issue. Trey Gowdy so far is one out of 535 in D.C. I would keep. At this point anyone in D.C. who has not been on the side of the “Constitution” and the people need to resign. That is putting it nice,for now. History is yearning to repeat itself. Nuff said.

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- DRSAVAGE24
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:58pm
  Love Gowdy on the Forensic Files TV show. He was the prosecutor on a couple of the cases they featured. Great one-liners, not sure how great a Congressman he is, but he seems pretty conservative (real conservative, not the watered-down type that gets propped up by RINO talk radio).
  
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Lordchamp
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:21pm
I am from SC and my choice from these 5 would be Scott since I believe keeping Gowdy in the House right now is more important than keeping Scott there. Gowdy would be great but with his high profile in the House I think he can do more good there. Plus putting a strong conservative black man in the Senate is a huge plus.

Definitely not McMaster, RINO alert. We don’t need another Graham ANYWHERE in politics.

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- right field
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:51pm
  Tim Scott or Trey Gowdy would both be fantastic US Senators. But I feel like we desperately need Gowdy in the House – the only place in the Federal Government that the conservatives have any power over anything.
  Gowdy will fight back against Boehner the ‘Cave’ Man. We need Gowdy to help go after the corrupt Obama administration – Gowdy is a former prosecutor and can get the facts out and help put the criminals in jail and kicked out of office.
  
  Report this comment
coachsmac
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:21pm
Either Scott or Gowdy would be my pick. I live in the middle of South Carolina and have been impressed with their values, tact, intelligence, and backbone! Haley sitting in a prime position to keep pushing the conservative message along!

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- DRSAVAGE24
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 8:01pm
  What is it about Tim Scott that you like? Besides that he’s black……What’s his voting record? Has he been voting to raise the debt ceiling? Is he going to do as he’s told by Boehner and raise taxes with no spending cuts? Did he vote for internet censorship and indefinite detention of Americans without due process?
  
  It alarms me that this guy is at the top of the list. Give me some reasons for him being such a great candidate other than the fact that he’s a minority.
  
  Report this comment
Full_Fathom_Five
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:16pm
As long as the subject of replacement is being discussed, here is a petition to replace John Boehner as Speaker of the House. If it interests you, the link is as follows:

https://www.change.org/petitions/house-republicans-senate-republicans-republican-governors-replace-john-boehner-as-the-speaker-of-the-house-of-representatives

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- ArmedAndReallyPissed
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:37pm
  It’s great to see people actually post things of real use like this and this POS Bone-r needs replaced bad. Only problem is, the good ole boy system is alive and well in Washington. All the signatures in the world won’t make Bone-r or anyone else go away. The’re all in Bed together and WE get stuck with the STD.
  
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- grayling646
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:40pm
  I agree with you but Bill has a better chance of sleeping with Hillary than we have of replacing BoneHer.
  
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banjarmon
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:08pm
I pray the people of South Carolina choose wisely!!!

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- ArmedAndReallyPissed
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:49pm
  49% probably won’t.
  
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steamboatwillie1413
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:07pm
Trey Gowdy is head and shoulders above the rest . . .

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pookieamos
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:03pm
Why is Blaze that my comments are not posted ????

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- ArmedAndReallyPissed
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:02pm
  Blaze may because not to understand you.
  
  Report this comment
pookieamos
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:01pm
How sad that Demint is retiring . I think he’s the closet resemblance of Ronald Regan.He would make a great president . Trey Gowdy would be my choice !

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soybomb315_II
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:56pm
Someone better run against Lindsey Graham in the primary…Can you imagine SC with TWO RINOS!?!?!?

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- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:52pm
  I especially liked it when Demint biatch-slapped those “senior RINOS”… like, ahem, uh… your boy Paul in ’10 for their love of earmarks and bacon…
  
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- Eastinfection
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 3:53pm
  Steve Spurrier!
  
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ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:54pm
Lets see now : Politicians lie, cheat, betray, steal, backstab, commit adultery and bicker like kids in a Sand Box fighting over Toys. How can we ever replace any of them ? Oh, such a dilemma.

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AmericanStrega
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:41pm
Why do we even care anymore? The GOP and the DNC will place whomever they think will get the vote to keep themselves in office. They all do not give a rats red patoot about you and me (the unwashed masses of America). All they care about is their bottom-line. The “what’s in it for us” crowd who could care less about what we, the American-unwashed-tax-paying-people think. All they want is your vote and “their” money for YOU America (you sloven-stinking-unwashed-masses). THEY DON’T CARE! TAX THE RICH ($250,000). Pizz on the middle-class workers and feed the “poor” with entitlements. We’re lost America. What those of us who over the age of 40 once saw as a land of dreams is now a land of the lost. They don’t give a flip about us. Just themselves.

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- revelation2012
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:44pm
  as long as “We the People” draw ‘breath’ we MUST CARE,,,
  
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usafpatriot
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:40pm
Gowdy would be my pick.

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oneshiner
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:37pm
I like Trey Gowdy because he always speaks up and makes total sense, unlike so many others who are all over the place and never answer a question. I also like Tim Scott. Good people for a change.

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- DRSAVAGE24
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 8:13pm
  Trey Gowdy voted for internet censorship, but to his credit he voted no on indefinite detention (NDAA).
  
  Tim Scott voted for both internet censorship and indefinite detention of American citizens without due process.
  
  Both voted against the debt ceiling increase. I’m sure either one would be better than the turd Lindsey Graham, perhaps one of them can run against him in the primary in 2014. We need a liberty person like Tom Davis appointed to this seat. Might as well get the best person in there now when we have the chance.
  
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revelation2012
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:36pm
Gowdy,,,

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redfish52
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:34pm
Nicki needs to stay where she is…I like Trey Gowdy….I believe he would have no problem calling a spade a spade…

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revelation2012
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:33pm
HOW we vote MUST BE CHANGED before 2014

the ‘MACHINES’ can be tampered with ie 2012 Election

if our votes are to EVER matter again ,,,

republicans can do nothing about voter fraud until 2017

because of that ‘consent decree’ signed some 30 Years ago

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thibx
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:33pm
gowdy my pick

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truthnstuff
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:32pm
Gowdy or Scott. Who would replace them?

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TROLLMONGER
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:31pm
No one cares.

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- revelation2012
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:42pm
  YOU have made it PERFECTLY CLEAR that YOU care about nothing pretaining to MANKIND.
  
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