The Associated Press asked each GOP U.S. Senate hopeful to answer the same five questions. Here are candidate Jim DeMint's answers:

Q: Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are expected to cost more than $50 billion in next year's budget. Would you support that request? Why or why not?

A: I would support the request. The battles in Iraq and Afghanistan and the greater war on terrorism are necessary to ensure the freedom and security of the United States and our interests around the world. Free and stable countries increase security around the world and spending money to help rebuild is vital to achieving this goal. Specifically, ground commanders in Iraq have said that adequate funding for reconstruction, infrastructure and security is itself a weapon that helps them win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people by providing them with hope.

In addition, the federal budget passed by the House of Representatives, with my support, included a $50 billion reserve fund for Iraq and Afghanistan. While we could use this money for other domestic projects, the House has acted responsibly and budgeted for these needs if the money is necessary.

Q: Would you vote to continue President Bush's tax cuts despite concerns about the growing federal deficit?

A: Making President Bush's tax cuts permanent would be one of my top priorities in the U.S. Senate. I was proud to have supported President Bush's tax cuts in the House because I believed his plan would stimulate our economy and allow families to keep more of their hard-earned dollars.

Recent economic news proves that the president's tax cut plan is working. Last month, 288,000 jobs were added to the economy, bringing the total number of jobs created since August 2003 to 1.1 million. April marks eight consecutive months of positive job gains in our nation.

Deficits exist not because Americans are not taxed enough but because politicians in Washington spend too much. I have been a fierce advocate for fiscal restraint in Congress. I was recently honored to have received the endorsement of Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), the nation's leading organization dedicated to restoring fiscal responsibility in Congress.

Q: The number of Americans without health insurance rose to 43.6 million in 2002, up from 39.8 million in 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. What should be done to improve those numbers?

A: The most important thing we can do to improve our health care system is to empower consumers with more choices and greater buying power. This can be accomplished by shifting our health care system toward consumers and away from third parties.

The best way we can realign incentives in our health care system and ensure more Americans receive care is to equip every American with their own tax-free health savings account (HSA). HSAs can be funded by employers and employees, leaving workers free from micromanaged health care at the hands of insurance companies. As patients shop around and directly negotiate with doctors, costs will come down without forcing rationed government care.

Q: Do you think Social Security and Medicare need to be fixed or replaced? If so, how would you go about doing it?

A: Social Security and Medicare should be strengthened with personal accounts that give workers the tools they need to save for the future. Social Security accounts will help Americans earn higher rates of return and eliminate the need for tax increases and benefit cuts. Medicare accounts will promote health savings and let retirees keep their private coverage in retirement. It is time to transform Social Security and Medicare from political promises into legally binding guarantees. Ownership and access to wealth should not be the privilege of a few. They are the hope of every American and must be the foundation of Social Security and Medicare.

Q: South Carolina's unemployment rate is 6.7 percent compared with 5.6 percent nationally. What would you do to spur job growth in your state?

A: South Carolina has emerged as a national leader in exporting, an aspect of our global economy that is becoming more important every year. Our state has the third highest export growth in the nation, supporting more than 150,000 jobs statewide. It's clear that trade is not our enemy but our opportunity.

To seize this opportunity we must take actions to confront the policies of own government that are sucking the life out of American business. While in Congress, I have worked to cut taxes, improve our education system, end frivolous lawsuits, enhance our health care system and decrease energy costs.

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