Key SC senator maintains neutrality in primary

[January 20, 2012]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- South Carolina's Sen. Jim DeMint, a tea party leader, says the South Carolina Republican primary is "clearly a two-man race" now between Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney.

DeMint has steadfastly declined to endorse any of the GOP candidates, although he supported Romney four years ago. Asked about his persistent neutrality on "CBS This Morning," DeMint said, "I don't think there's very many people in South Carolina who are waiting for me to tell them how to vote."

He said he's focusing more on trying to win a Republican majority in the Senate.

DeMint says he thinks Gingrich handled a question about marital infidelity "as well as he could have." But he also said he didn't know what effect that might have on the outcome of Saturday's primary voting.

[Associated Press]

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