DeMint backs Tea Party candidates in Delaware and New Hampshire

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) has put his stamp on the two remaining Republican Senate primaries of the season where Tea Party-backed candidates are gunning for upsets against establishment picks.

On Friday night, DeMint endorsed Christine O’Donnell in Delaware and Ovide Lamontagne in New Hampshire. The endorsements came on DeMint’s Twitter feed.

“I’m proud to endorse Christine O’Donnell for US Senate in Delaware. She will stand strong for the principles of freedom,” DeMint tweeted Friday night.

O’Donnell faces Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) in Tuesday’s primary. Castle has the support of the state GOP and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

DeMint’s backing is a major last-minute boost for O’Donnell who also won the support of the National Rifle Association earlier Friday and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Thursday.

Of New Hampshire’s Senate contest, DeMint tweeted: “I’m proud to endorse Ovide Lamontagne for US Senate in New Hampshire. He’s a proven conservative.” 

Lamontagne faces Kelly Ayotte and self-funding businessman Bill Binnie in the race to fill the seat of retiring Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.).

DeMint’s endorsements come late, but both are significant, and fly in face of the national party. With the exception of the Republican primary in Alaska, DeMint has played a major role in just about every Tea Party-fueled upset of GOP establishment candidates this primary season.

DeMint backed Rand Paul in Kentucky, Ken Buck in Colorado, Sharron Angle in Nevada and Mike Lee in Utah.

DeMint stayed out of the GOP contest between Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Joe Miller until after the primary. DeMint’s Senate Conservatives Fund is now backing Miller and helping
his raise money.