Former governor to enter South Carolina Senate Race

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Here's the link: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040114/ap_on_el_se/senate_beasley_5

Former Republican Gov. David Beasley, who fought to remove the Confederate flag from South Carolina's Capitol dome, announced Wednesday that he is running for the U.S. Senate.

Beasley faces an already crowded GOP field in the race to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings.

Other Republicans seeking the nomination include former state Attorney General Charlie Condon, U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint, Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride and Charleston real estate developer Thomas Ravenel. The top Democrat in the race is state Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum.

Beasley said he had been weighing the decision carefully and considering how it will affect his family. He said he missed public service and thinks there needs to be a Republican majority in the Senate to support President Bush