Throughout his career as a legislator DeMint has advocated for a simpler tax code and even doing away with federal income tax, a theme he continues to focus on during the campaign.

"It's time to throw it [the current tax code] out and replace it with a new system that is fair, flat and promotes growth. The longer we wait to reform our tax code the more we burden workers and families," DeMint said during a campaign visit in August.

DeMint has, however, moved away from his earlier calls to establish a national sales tax, saying that the media has treated him unfairly on the issue. In a June Washington Post article DeMint is quoted as saying: "that's not an argument I'm going to win on the campaign trail."

DeMint is one of 54 cosponsors of a House bill that calls for a 23 percent national sales tax.

Even in a state with a strong textile market that has seen the loss of tens of thousands of jobs since 2001, DeMint strongly supports free trade. DeMint has said that trade agreements and reduced tariffs will improve the economic situation in the United States.

"These international companies are not going to locate in this country or this state if they don't have access to markets. ... That means trade agreements and reduction of tariffs," DeMint said, according to a Myrtle Beach newspaper. "The real story is clear: The public perception and how the media has covered it has created a totally different perception that trade is costing us all our jobs, when, in fact ... trade is creating the jobs we're getting, our high-paying jobs."

DeMint grew up in a South Carolina steeped in the conservative values he now endorses. He was born Sept. 2, 1951 in Greenville to Tom DeMint and Betty DeMint Batson. He received a Bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee in 1973. After graduation, DeMint married his high school sweetheart, Debbie Henderson. They have four children. He worked as a sales representative for Scott Paper from 1973-75.

DeMint attended Clemson University and graduated with a Master of Business Administration degree in 1981. He founded DeMint Marketing, a research firm with clients in the commercial, education and medical fields, in 1983. This background in marketing research would come to help DeMint in his future promotion of a Republican message.

His political consciousness was awakened in 1992 when he went to work for Bob Inglis' successful House campaign. DeMint is quoted as saying he wanted to be a part of the solution to America's problems.

"I became increasingly concerned that the freedoms we take for granted in America are under attack in such a subtle way that no one is noticing it. I developed the feeling that I had a burden to try to change things," he has said.

DeMint was first elected to Congress in 1998, after Inglis kept his campaign promise to serve no more than three terms. Like Inglis, DeMint ran on a pledge to serve only three terms and to take no PAC money. His platform called for a national sales tax, individual retirement accounts in Social Security, and for the right-to-life amendment.

Elected president of the freshman class, DeMint soon became a popular conservative voice in the House and his supporters extended beyond Capitol Hill. He secured the endorsement of President Bush for his Senate run.

In the House, DeMint is a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, serving as vice chairman of the Subcommittee on Employer and Employee Relations. He serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Small Business Committee.

-- Compiled for the Online NewsHour by Annie Schleicher