Prayer Effort Launches for Jim DeMint

While U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina is being praised for backing Marco Rubio in Florida, there have been more than a few grumbles about how some candidates DeMint backed came up short on Election Day -- leaving the Democrats in control of the U.S. Senate.

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council announced on Wednesday that his organization would lead a prayer effort for DeMint, hoping to get a million Americans to pray for the senator.

"To those of us who know and admire Senator Jim DeMint, these recent attacks on his character have been difficult to stomach, said Perkins. In the aftermath of last Tuesday's election, Senator DeMint has been unfairly blamed for the Republicans' shortcomings in the Senate. Perhaps more than any other GOP member, Senator DeMint is responsible for giving Americans hope that what's wrong in Washington can be fixed if we simply return to our nation's founding principles and work within -- not around -- the Constitution.

"When the establishment failed to energize the base with its moderate platform, Senator DeMint became a crusader for principled conservatism that reached beyond the GOP, added Perkins. When people gang up on a principled leader, doing what is right can seem like a lonely effort. That's why FRC is gathering together 1 million Americans to pray on a regular basis for Senator DeMint.

"We want the men and women from both parties to know that an attack on Senator DeMint is an attack on all conservatives and people of faith, said Perkins. In my conversations, Senator DeMint has expressed his appreciation for those who would pray for him and has agreed to keep those who pledge to pray updated with specific prayer requests as he works with the new Congress on issues critical to our families.