(is that a word?) POLITICO Breaking News ------------------------------------------------- Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) is resigning his seat in January to become president of the Heritage Foundation, GOP aides confirmed to POLITICO. "This really gets my blood going again thinking about the possibilities. This is the time to elevate the conservative cause," the senator told the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news. Republican South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley would appoint a replacement until a special election is held in 2014, the Journal reported. Good riddance to trash!
Wow. But now does he have less incentive than ever, here in December, to play ball with whatever adults we may have on both sides of the Senate?
Wow. That's an interesting move. Giving up the power of being a Senator to go work at Heritage? Oh well. Maybe he will make Heritage so blatantly wingnut that their studies won't be popping up in news stories.
The only potential drawback is that the Gov. of SC could actually pick someone even more bat s*** crazy. I get the feeling he wouldn't have done this w/o discussing potential replacements with Haley first.
Whoever Haley appoints and Lindsay Graham will both be up for re-election in 2014. Kind of interesting to have both South Carolina senate seats up at the same time.
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That and he sees Republican (especially Tea Party) influence declining in the Senate. This also makes him able to get an earlier start organizing a 2016 run if that's in the plan.
Tim Scott or Trey Gowdy would both be good replacements for DeMint Would prefer Gowdy but predicting Scott.
There would be two separate elections. So Graham vs somebody for one seat, and the new guy vs somebody for the other seat. Would be kind of bizarre!
Also makes for an interesting jockeying of position for the Democrats to decide which seat to run for. The Lindsey Graham seat is probably harder to win - but it's for 6 years. The other seat is potentially a better opportunity, but it would be only be for 2 years.
DeMint must recognize that the extreme right wing is losing it's grip on the GOP. What will be most interesting is who Haley chooses... does she go Tea Party extreme, or does she consider her own political future and choose someone that won't hurt whatever chance she has at a national position in 2016?
Not sure what DeMint will get, but outgoing head of the Heritage Foundation apparently made $1 million / yr.
Well, it's probably rational for him to decline his player option and negotiate his next contract right now rather than later if he expects his stats to go down next year.
They've been largely disowned after spawning O-Romneycare. This is a good marriage for them... Worked for Cato...amirite republicans?
And to whatever dem powerbroker who has nasty uncompromising photos of DeMint and his undocumented cabana boy, my hats off to you!
Probably Haley herself will take the position. still good to get rid of Demint. The GOP could really use a token non-white male big time.
