Some Republicans Wonder: Does Jim DeMint Want a Republican Majority?

In the past, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) has said he would "rather have 30 Marco Rubios in the Senate than 60 Arlen Specters." For those who believe it is vital for Republicans to recapture the majority, that comment was controversial, to say the least.

Now, by backing Tea Party candidate Christine O'Donnell for U.S. Senate in Delaware, some Republicans are quietly groaning that DeMint may have actually harmed Republican chances of retaking control of the Senate this fall.

They may have a point. According to a new Public Policy Polling (PPP) survey, Democrat Chris Coons begins the general election with a 50-34 lead over O'Donnell. Mike Castle would have led Coons by a 45-35 margin.

One former Hill aide I spoke to said he understood why average voters could be swept up in the moment, but that "Jim DeMint is a seasoned political professional who's got to know that Delaware can't flip."

Another Republican operative said he believes DeMint may function better in the minority -- where he is essentially playing defense, and blocking bad Democratic bills. This operative went on to say that "basically, [Demint's] the only one in the Senate caucus not interested in winning the majority."

Reached for comment, Matt Hoskins, spokesman for DeMint's Senate Conservatives Fund, said: "Based on the number of Republicans DeMint has helped get elected this year, I would say he's done quite a bit to elect a majority. Perhaps the real reason some unnamed Republicans are upset is that these candidates actually have principles."