DeMint needles GOP leaders in congratulating conservatives

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) needled his own party's leaders in congratulating Republicans Rand Paul and Marco Rubio's victory in the Kentucky Senate race.

"I want to congratulate Rand Paul on winning a race that the leaders in his own party said he could not win," DeMint said in a statement. "Rand overcame difficult odds because he consistently stood up for conservative principles."

Paul is one of the crop of GOP candidates this cycle allied with the Tea Party movement to have beaten an establishment-backed choice in the Republican primary. He beat Secretary of State Trey Grayson in an upset victory in the GOP primary.

That primary split conservatives like DeMint, who's sponsored likeminded GOP candidates through his Senate Conservatives Fund, from senior leaders such as Sens. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and John Cornyn (Texas).

"I was honored to be an early supporter of his campaign, and I look forward to working with him in the Senate," DeMint said.

DeMint said the same of Rubio, who he backed in a three-way race that forced Gov. Charlie Crist (I) out of the party.

"I was honored to support Marco's campaign in the primary when the Washington establishment opposed him and even laughed at his chances," he said.

Cornyn congratulated Paul in a statement.

“After a spirited campaign, voters in the Bluegrass State rebuked the Democrats’ misleading attacks and reckless spending agenda and elected Dr. Rand Paul as their U.S. senator this evening. Kentuckians chose a commonsense leader who will work tirelessly to rein in the Obama administration’s job-killing tax hikes, out-of-control debt, and unpopular healthcare overhaul. I look forward to welcoming Senator-elect Paul to our nation’s capital as we fight to restore much-needed accountability in Washington," Cornyn said in a statement on Tuesday night congratulating Paul.

Updated 8:29 p.m.