SC: Democrats likely to lose Fritz's seat

TheState.com ^ | 3/9/2003 | The State

[JohnnyZ]

If not Fritz, then who?

That's the question Democrats keep asking themselves if U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings, South Carolina's 81-year-old senior senator, chooses not to seek re-election to a seventh full term.

The Charleston senator has been mulling his future ever since Democrats took a drubbing at the polls last November.

When Republicans regained control of the Senate, Hollings lost his coveted job as chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee -- and the clout, influence and prestige that go with it.

At home, Republicans regained the governor's office, took six of the eight constitutional offices, and retained control of the state House of Representatives and Senate -- certainly not an encouraging sign for Hollings, or the Democrats for that matter.

Hollings remains undecided about 2004. He has much to weigh.

It's a presidential election year, and South Carolina is one of the Republicans' strongest states in the nation. The last time Hollings ran in a presidential election year -- 1992 -- he almost lost to former GOP congressman Tommy Hartnett. The state is much more Republican today.

Hollings also must decide whether he's up to another contest at his age. It could cost between $8 million and $10 million. He has $933,000 in the bank. Does he have the stomach to raise that kind of money? Is the fire still in the belly?

Raising the cash will be a bit more difficult this time, since he no longer occupies a position of power in the Senate. Being the senior senator from S.C. and the fourth-ranking member in the U.S. Senate mean nothing.

There are other matters for Hollings to consider. Since his last campaign in 1998, when he beat then-GOP Congressman Bob Inglis, his campaign organization has disbanded. Many of his longtime supporters have died.

Friends also have advised him not to run. They fear he'll lose, and they don't want to see his illustrious political career, which spans 53 years, end on a sour note.

Hollings doesn't talk or act like someone who's running. He reintroduced his value added tax, which he has never done when approaching a re-election year. He's also pushing to revive the military draft, not a popular position at home.

And the last time Congress had a break, he and his wife Peatsy uncharacteristically stayed at home on the Isle of Palms.

The betting is Hollings won't run.

So, if not Fritz, who?

State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum is not interested. She has her sights set on being governor.

Charleston Mayor Joe Riley has no desire to go to Washington.

Dick Riley, former governor and U.S. education secretary, likes what he's doing -- preferring to stay above the political fray with his law practice and work with an education think tank.

Alex Sanders, the 2002 Senate nominee, has all but decided to move to Cambridge, Mass., to teach the history of Southern politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Former U.S. Ambassador Phil Lader questions whether a candidate with a "D" at the end of his name can win statewide.

There just aren't any Democrats, which tells you something about the condition of the party. It's in bad shape.

The Democrats' prospects for retaining the seat are bleak, with or without Hollings.

Republicans just might pick up the seat by default.

[JohnnyZ]

Fritz Hollings is a goner. Glad to see Inez isn't running -- she would be a really tough candidate to face.

[LdSentinal]

Congressman John Spratt (D)?

[LdSentinal]

Oh yeah, and Hodges.

[JohnnyZ]

I doubt Spratt would want to give up his seat in Congress for a chance at the senate. He'll turn 62 right before the election and probably won't lose his district until he retires or dies, but there's no reason to think he'd be strong statewide. Hodges just took a job at a North Carolina consulting (?) group ("They work on things in both Carolinas") and is unlikely to want to get his butt kicked again.

Former congressman Robin Tallon is the only name listed on politics1.com for the Ds.

[nospinzone]

If Hollings throws in the towel, how many more Dems will say the party's over and retire?

[NYC Republican]

We can only hope...

[The Old Hoosier]

2004 ain't gonna be pretty for Senate Dems. Miller, Daschle and Hollings will all retire, and so will Graham if he doesn't get the prez or veep nomination. Edwards will lose for sure. Reid will probably retire rather than lose in Nev.

The only question is whether the pubbies pick up five seats, or ten.

[NeoCaveman]

Foghorn leghonrn ping.

"I say there, there's a whole lotta retirin' goin' on round herea"

[xsmommy]

couldn't happen to a nicer rooster. well yeah, it could, it could be kkkbyrd.

[hobbes1]

Wouldn't it be sweet, to Get rid of Fritz, and Schmuckie Scummer, and say 6 or7 others and get to 60......

[xsmommy]

sounds about perfect.

[nospinzone]

I'd love to see Reid trying to convince Nevadans to keep him because he *might* become the new leader of the minority in the Senate someday. Given the swing to the GOP in Nevada in 2002 and his own thin as paper victory in 1998, he must be sweating bullets.

[TatieBug]

You reminded me of how I answered the phone on our last election night..."There's a Republican breeeeeeeze blowin out thare."

[Norwell]

How about Governor Guinn to replace Reid?

[Jonez712]

"I say there, there's a whole lotta retirin' goin' on round herea"

Haha! Lotsa retirin' indeed. Anyway, I think it's about time Robert "KKK" Byrd goes as well, as I think someone mentioned. Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty WRONG!!

[NeoCaveman]

Sheets Byrd isn't up until 2006. The King of Pork(TM) got 80% of the vote in 2000. He'll be in that seat until he meets his only friend, his old dog Billy, in the great beyond.

[votelife]

Freepers, rather than waiting to see what happens with Estrada, we need to take the lead. That means presuring Senators, special interest groups, media organizations, etc. This thread is meant to be an ongoing effort to get this man confirmed. For too many years liberals have had their way on the courts. Now, President Bush is in a position to move the courts to the right. The election of '02 showed that the country is with the President. I think it's time to let Daschle, Hillary, and Pelosi know this is Bush country. Are you with me! Let's FREEP these people.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/847037/posts

[nospinzone]

How about Governor Guinn to replace Reid?

Could be, but it seems Rep. Jim Gibbons will be given first crack. Looks like a solid guy, and until up to 2002 he was half of Nevada's congressional delegation.

[Outraged At FLA]

Does anyone here have statistics on how many Republicans have had two term presidencies versus Democrats?

[Clintonfatigued]

Inez Tennenbaum is running after all. So this race is not a certain Republican pick-up after all. In addition, Congressman James DeMint has voted for some free-trade legislation, which is unpopular in South Carolina. This race could easily go either way.