When Democratic Sen. Fritz Hollings announced in 2004 that he would not seek re-election, Democrats held out some hope that they could hold the seat, even in a presidential election year.
Democrats recruited Inez Tenenbaum, who was then the state’s superintendent of public education. While Tenenbaum got a free ride to the nomination, Republicans hosted a crowded primary that produced a run-off between former Gov. David Beasley and Rep. Jim DeMint. While DeMint placed second in the primary with just 26 percent to Beasley’s 37 percent, he trounced the former Governor in the run-off, 59 percent to 41 percent.
While the general election between DeMint and Tenenbaum was competitive, 2004 was a good year for Republicans, particularly in red states like South Carolina, and DeMint easily won the race, 54 percent to 44 percent.
The state has seemingly gotten even more Republican since 2004, and it appears that DeMint’s bid for a second term will be considerably less competitive than his first race. Republican Sen. John McCain carried the state in 2008 with 54 percent to 45 percent for President
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