South Carolina’s Jim DeMint easily wins party nomination for a second Senate term

SC’s DeMint cruises to GOP Senate primary win

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint has easily won the Republican primary over a little-known former Democrat.

The 58-year-old conservative kingmaker trounced 47-year-old Charleston lawyer Susan Gaddy in his quest Tuesday toward a second Senate term.

With 7 percent of precincts reporting, DeMint was winning with 85 percent of the vote.

The tea party favorite will face one of two candidates in the Democratic primary. They are 64-year-old former judge Vic Rawl of Charleston or 32-year-old unemployed military veteran Alvin Greene of Manning.

DeMint has spent far more time this season helping elect like-minded conservatives to Congress than addressing his opponent back home. He still has $3.5 million cash available for the general election.