Sen. Jim DeMint Says This Term Will be His Last; Still Coy on Florida

The Republican senator widely credited with stirring up the tea party movement says he won't run for re-election.

Elected to a second term last year, Jim DeMint of South Carolina told the National Journal this week:

"It was not a campaign promise; but that is my plan, that the election last year was my last one. It has always been my plan not to serve more than two terms."

His departure, along with U.S. Rep. Ron Paul's decision not to run for re-election next year, means Congress will lose two of its most staunchly conservative voices.

But DeMint is not going quietly in the five years he has left on the Hill. He's currently battling against House Speaker John Boehner's debt-reduction plan, which he calls weak.

And he continues to raise money to elect uncompromising conservatives to the Senate.

DeMint said his Senate Conservatives Fund is currently interviewing and selecting candidates for 2012.

"Weve endorsed two, Josh Mandel in Ohio [and] Ted Cruz in Texas. Were going to try to help as many good candidates as we can find," he told the Journal.

DeMint said last month, before Mike Haridopolos pulled out, that he had a favorite in Florida's GOP Senate primary, but he has declined to name his choice so far.