Sen. Jim DeMint argued for a “devolution of power out of Washington,” saying Sunday that “the fact is, education probably would work a lot better without the Department of Education.”

The South Carolina Republican had been asked on CNN’s “State of the Union” whether candidates whom he and the tea party movement have endorsed are too far out of the political mainstream. When host Candy Crowley gave Sharron Angle’s call to abolish the Education Department as an example, DeMint said, “She’s very bold to say it.” Angle is the GOP candidate challenging Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) for his Senate seat in Nevada.

“I would support a devolution of power out of Washington for education, health care, transportation, and I’ve introduced a lot of legislation for that, too,” DeMint added, saying the power should go to the states. “And you can do it in a common-sense, reasonable way that doesn’t disrupt any of the activities that we support.”