3. Jim DeMint
DeMint (R-S.C.) has been carrying the Tea Party banner in the Senate, staking out foreign-policy positions in clear opposition to the administration and often to the right of the GOP leadership -- such as his outright opposition to the new START treaty. He also uses his perch on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to fight vigorously for his pet projects, such as a global U.S. missile defense shield. Most incoming Tea Party candidates don't focus on foreign policy, but many will owe allegiance to DeMint because he has been filling their campaign coffers. They could be inclined to follow suit with his unilateralist, militaristic worldview, which many see as based on his neoconservative ideology rather than a realistic pursuit of U.S. interests in multipolar world order.
DeMint is also very active on Latin America policy, having interjected himself into last year's debate over U.S. policy toward Honduras. He opposed ousted President Manuel Zelaya, and the State Department eventually followed suit. He is also a leading proponent of the Mexico City rule, under which foreign aid could be denied to international organizations that perform or educate women about abortions.
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