While tea party favorite Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina continues to ponder making a run at the Republican presidential nomination, his competitors are keeping tabs on what he does. His home state will be a crucial primary battle.

While U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., has said he has no intention of running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, other candidates seem more than willing to take his place as one of the conservative favorites in the field.