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Thurmond's Senate departure will leave political vacuum

Thurmond
Thurmond  

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) -- The oldest person ever to serve in the Senate, Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-South Carolina, is not expected to run for re-election in 2002, a move that has already begun to change the state's political landscape.

Thurmond, 98, will leave a seat that he has held for 46 years, creating what many political observers see as unusual and interesting prospects for Republicans and Democrats on both the state and national levels.

Although South Carolina Republican Rep. Lindsey Graham has already announced his intention to succeed Thurmond, a crowded field of Democrats is considering making a run for the seat.

"There have been plenty of people in this state pushing up daisies basing their political careers on waiting for Strom Thurmond to leave office," said Henry McMaster, South Carolina GOP chairman.

Potential Democratic contenders include Rep. Jim Clybern, multimillionaire financier Darla Moore and former U.S. Ambassador to Britain Philip Lader.

But perhaps more dramatic is the possibility that Thurmond's health might force him to leave office early. The senator's staffers insist that Thurmond is in it for the duration, but that hasn't quelled speculation about who would be named to replace him by Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges.

Many political observers in Washington expect that Hodges would appoint someone from his own party, suddenly tipping the U.S. Senate's slim majority to the Democrats.

But South Carolina Democrats have outlined reasons why it might be in the governor's interest to appoint a Republican from South Carolina's Senate to take Thurmond's place in the U.S. Senate. Republicans currently enjoy a one-vote majority in the state Senate and tapping a Republican state senator to become a U.S. senator would deal a simultaneous blow to Washington Democrats and South Carolina Republicans.

Part of the less-than-exuberant party loyalty among South Carolina's traditionally conservative Democrats stems from a general feeling that the Democratic National Committee has neglected them.

"The national Democratic Party has paid little or no attention to us," said Dick Harpootlian, South Carolina Democratic Party chairman. "If I were advising Jim Hodges, I'd tell him he should do what's best for us. Why the hell should we care what's best for them?"

"There are Republican state senators who have to be considered along with some Democrats," South Carolina Democratic strategist Kevin Geddings told CNN. "We have about an evenly split state Senate, and it would make some sense for Gov. Hodges to make the state Senate Democratic."

"If I were (U.S. Senate Democratic leader Sen.) Tom Daschle and that crowd, I wouldn't assume anything," said Harpootlian. "Gov. Hodges will do what's best for South Carolina, not for Tom Daschle."

As for Hodges, the governor has refused to take part in the public speculation under that scenario because, like most politicians in the state, Hodges said he expects Thurmond to complete his remaining 22 months in office.

The prospect of Thurmond leaving politics is already being felt by some lawmakers. South Carolina politics is dotted with Thurmond proteges who got their starts working for him, including McMaster, who worked for Thurmond immediately after finishing law school. With Thurmond's help, McMaster was appointed a U.S. attorney 20 years ago.

"It'll be a funny feeling to wake up and know if you have a problem you won't have Strom Thurmond to call," McMaster said, "and that goes for big and little people across the state."

CNN Correspondent Jonathan Karl contributed to this report.



RELATED STORIES:
Thurmond released from hospital
October 2, 2000

RELATED SITES:
U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond

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