DeMint challenger Greene pulls in 28 percent in loss

Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-S.C.) unusual Democratic challenger, Alvin Greene, won nearly 30 percent of the vote against the Tea Party favorite on Tuesday.

Greene lost to DeMint 62-28, with third-party candidate Tom Clemens winning 9 percent. The Democrat, an unemployed military veteran, was able to attract his support after neglecting to fundraise and holding only a handful of campaign events.

A series of odd stories helped add color to the South Carolina race, which was virtually a guaranteed win for DeMint.

Greene won a competitive primary race over the summer without running a campaign, sparking calls for an investigation. The state's Democratic primary declined to endorse him, as did Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.), the third-ranking House Democrat. 

In August, Greene was indicted on a felony obscenity charge for allegedly showing pornographic images to a college student, but he chose to remain in the race.