DeMint Endorses Romney

It strikes me as incredibly significant that Senator Jim DeMint, R-SC, has endorsed Mitt Romney for President.

Not only is it very early for such declarations -- making it all the more noteworthy -- it also sends a signal that Mitt Romney has managed to impress not only conservatives outside the Beltway, but also Beltway insiders, including those (like DeMint) from the heart of the deep South/Bible Belt.

What's more, it's clear that neither Romney nor DeMint are intending to cede the South Carolina primary to John McCain, who's been endorsed by the state's senior senator, Lindsay Graham.