DeMint says he will stay neutral in McCain-Hayworth primary race

Sen. Jim DeMint said Wednesday that he won't endorse a candidate in Arizona's contested Republican primary.

DeMint will stay neutral in the primary race between Sen. John McCain (R) and former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R), who will wage a primary challenge from the senator's right.

"I'm going to stay neutral in Arizona," DeMint said during an appearance on Fox News.

DeMint has shown a willingness to dabble in primaries with his Senate Conservative Fund, which has backed some more conservative Senate candidates in races over more establishment candidates. DeMint's group has backed former state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R) over Gov. Charlie Crist (R) in Florida, for instance, and backed Chuck DeVore over Carly Fiorina in California.

"What we're trying to do with the Senate Conservative Fund," DeMint explained, "is to at least give Republicans the option of a mainstream, conservative candidates in primaries."

The group is conducting a "money bomb" for Rubio today, and DeMint saved particular words of praise for the candidate.

"He's a great young candidate in Florida, running for the Senate against more of an establishment Republican," he said. "And I think he's the new face of the Republican Party."