State Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, continues to mull a run against U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint.

The Washington Post reported that Hutto met with Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee officials this week to discuss the possibility.

For right now, Hutto says that’s all it is, a possibility.

“I’m in the process of meeting with all of the people right now,” said a tight-lipped Hutto.

“I have not made any decision. I have looked into it and I’m still looking into it. It’s a long process,” he said.

What would it take for Hutto to topple DeMint – who has become the face of Republican opposition to President Barack Obama’s health care plan – in one of the nation’s strongest GOP states?

The only Democrat elected governor in the past 22 years believes now could be the time and Hutto might be the right man for the job.

“I think Brad would be a terrific candidate for higher office,” former Gov. Jim Hodges said.

Hodges thinks a successful candidate has to provide solutions for the ailing economy, something he feels Republicans haven’t done in the past seven years. Hodges also says Hutto could capitalize on the state GOP’s failure to improve the economy and education.

“Clearly, the Republicans are in trouble right now,” he said.

He believes that creates an opening for Democrats on the ticket.

Fundraising won’t be an issue for any Democrat taking on DeMint, Hodges said.

“That is a national constituency,” he said. “Fundraising is less difficult in a U.S. Senate race.”

Hodges noted Hutto or another Democrat would receive organizational support and donations from across the country.

The Democratic National Committee has already aired television ads attacking DeMint in his hometown, Greenville. DeMint says those ads are false and has sought to remove them from the airwaves.

Don Fowler, former chairman of the DNC, believes DeMint made himself vulnerable to defeat next November by opposing the federal stimulus package and the president’s effort at health care reform.

“He’s against everything,” he said of DeMint.

Fowler, a University of South Carolina professor, said state Democrats reached their low point in 2002. That’s when Hodges was ousted and Republican Lindsey Graham captured the U.S. Senate seat held by the late Strom Thurmond.

But he sees the tide turning.

Fowler points out Obama got more votes in each of the state’s 46 counties than 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry did.

“That’s direct, meaningful evidence that Democrats have improved their performance,” he said.

While Fowler acknowledges it won’t be easy for a Democrat to defeat DeMint, he feels it’s possible if Hutto or another viable contender can do three things.

First and foremost, the candidate must be a good one.

“He (Hutto) is right on the issues. I think he has proven he has a strong level of confidence between himself and his constituents. He’s smart and works hard. The basic elements of good candidates are there,” Fowler said.

The second challenge is assembling a package of issues offering an attractive alternative to DeMint.

Fowler says record unemployment, lack of economic development and failure to properly address education under the state’s Republican leadership gives any Democratic senatorial candidate a canvas to paint on.

He says the biggest hurdle is raising the cash needed to compete with DeMint.

DeMint will have virtually no financial limitations for his re-election campaign, Fowler said.

“The way to gain credibility is to raise money in your home state,” he said.

Attempts to get comments regarding a potential DeMint-Hutto matchup from DeMint’s office and the S.C. GOP were unsuccessful Friday.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories at TheTandD.com.

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