It is pointless for DeMint to try for any Senate leadership positions. The current moderate GOP leadership hates him. His only chance for Senate Leadership is to do exactly what he is doing, go around the current moderates and RINOs and get new conservative senators elected.
How can he move up in a Senate that is completely controlled by moderates and RINOs. He needs a base of support to move up. That is what he is doing. He is building a base of support.
It would be a hell of alot easier for him to build support if he at least made an attempt at the Republican Senatorial committee which is headed by john Cornyn.
Its been allowed to be run by Rinos who seek to get more Rinos. That job, is the key to getting conservatives elected, not sidestepped, if he could have at least made an attempt to fight for that job, it could have sent a message, that there will be a battle for each RINO that the GOP attempts to import.