Today marks the release of Sen. Jim DeMint’s (R-SC) book, 'The Great Awakening: Two Years that Changed America, Washington & Me,' reports USA Today. The book chronicles DeMint’s founding of the Senate’s Tea Party Caucus, his promotion of particular tea party candidates like Sen. Marco Rubio and the “isolation” he has felt in opposing his own party on certain issues like earmarks.

In an excerpt released to USA Today, DeMint discusses how his colleagues “literally laughed at [him]” when he endorsed Marco Rubio over Gov. Charlie Crist for Florida’s U.S. Senate seat in 2010.

DeMint explains that what he looks for in an elected official is a “principled conservative,” no matter how the rest of the GOP feels initially about that candidate.

“There has been a very real spiritual and political awakening in America,” DeMint says referring to the tea party movement. “Some believe this movement will fizzle and die. I believe it will continue to grow and hope this book will inspire more Americans to join this great awakening.”