Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Helms to retire; D.C. will change Thirty years of Senate service will end in 2003 BY SCOTT MOONEYHAM ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER RALEIGH, N.C. - Sen. Jesse Helms, the 79-year-old Republi can whose sharp condemna tions of communism and liber alism characterized three con tentious decades on Capitol Hill, said Wednesday that he will not seek re-election next year. The five-term Republican cit ed his age in his decision. "I would be 88 if I ran again in 2002 and was elected and lived to finish a sixth term,” he said. "This, my family and I decided unanimously, I should not do - and, ladies and gentlemen, I shall not.” me taped remarks were shown on the evening newscast of WRAL-TV, the station where Helms’ fiery editorials helped build support for his election to the Senate in 1972. Helms noted, he will have served 30 years in the Senate when his term ends in 2003. "Not in my wildest imagina tion did it occur to me that such a privilege would ever be mine,” Helms said, his voice breaking slightly near the end of his 10 minute speech. "Thank you dear friends, God bless you, and as Ron Rea gan always used to say,’ God bless America,” he said. Helms taped the address at the TV station before an invita tion-only group of friends and family. He then headed to his va cation home on Lake Gaston, north of Raleigh, to watch the broadcast with his wife, Dorothy. Within minutes of the an nouncement, President Bush praised Helms as "a tireless de fender of our nation’s freedom and a champion of democracy abroad.” Helms’ departure could make it more difficult for the GOP to recapture the Senate, where Democrats hold a 50-49 majori ty, with one independent. Republicans are defending 20 Senate seats next year, includ ing the one held by 98-year-old Sen. Strom Thurmond of-South Carolina, who has said he will not seek re-election. Democrats are defending 14, none of them open. Long before Helms’ plans be came public, possible successors began exploring bids to replace him - including former labor secretary and Red Cross chief Elizabeth Dole. "Senator Helms’ decision to retire in 2003 signals the end of an era in our state,” Dole said from her mother’s home in Sal isbury. "He has been a relent less watchdog with a strong commitment to North Carolina and our nation.” Othor Ronnhliptiric nnncirlnr. ing a bid are Rep. Richard Burr, former Sen. Lauch Faircloth, former Charlotte mayor Richard Vinroot and Lexington lawyer Jim Snyder. So far, the only Democrat to enter The race.is Secretary of State Elaine Marshall. There is speculation that Democrats will ask former four-term Gov. Jim Hunt to run. People close to Helms said for weeks that relatives were urg ing him not to seek re-election. He has also had several years of health problems that affected his heart, legs and balance. He had both knees replaced in 1998 and since then has used a mo torized scooter to get around Capitol Hill. The reality of a Senate with out Helms was slow to sink in. "Tm not sure anyone will be as consistently conservative and fearlessly conservative as he has been,” said Tom Ellis, a Raleigh attorney who helped guide Helms’ early campaigns and founded his fund-raising or ganization, the Congressional Club. Near Helms’ hometown of Monroe, about 20 people gath ered at the Jesse Helms Center to watch the announcement on a big-screen television. Linda Is ner, who has known Helms for 30 years, said she wished the news was different. "It was false hope,” she said, acknowledging that physical ail ments had taken a toll on Helms. "He really is a unique individ ual.” Helms never won more than 55 percent of the vote in any Sen ate election, but nonetheless be came an icon to conservatives, advocating a return to prayer in the classroom and traditional family values. He was equally as committed to criticizing "the homosexual agenda,” affirma tive action and federal funding for the National Endowment of the Arts. In Washington, he was known as "Senator No,” un afraid to use Senate rules and his power as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Senate Foreign Rela tions Committee to block pay ments to the United Nations or appointments of ambassadors. He also helped place sanctions against communist nations. "As a nolitician. one of his chief legacies was he had courage in his convictions,” said John Dodd, director of the Jesse Helms Center. "He did not put his finger in the wind to de cide how he thinks and this is unusual. “While he was a polarizing figure to many people, he also showed he could he an effective senator for this state,” he said. Others were glad to see him go. “I guess the 19th century is over now,” said Democratic pollster Sam Watts. Helms insisted he will not vanish from public life, noting he has more than a year left be fore his term ends. He said “a great deaf of work lies ahead of the Senate this fall and next year.” 10 Senate Races of Interest iir 2002 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS A look at 10 Senate races of interest in 2002, according to Democrats, Republicans and analysts: ARKANSAS: Incumbent Republican Sen. Tim Hutchinson faces a challenge from Democratic Attorney Mark Pryor. IOWA: Incumbent Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin faces a stiff challenge from GOP Rep. Greg Ganske, a plastic surgeon from Des Moines. MINNESOTA: Incumbent Democratic Sen. Paul Wellstone could get plenty of competition from Norm Coleman, mayor of St. Paul. MISSOURI: Incumbent Democratic Sen. Jean Carnahan is expected to seek re-election after her appointment to the Senate last year. MONTANA: Incumbent Democratic Sen. Max Baucus is running for re election in a heavily Republican state. NEW HAMPSHIRE: Democrats and at least one Republican see GOP incumbent Sen. Bob Smith as vulnerable. Democratic Gov. Jeanne Shaheen is forming an exploratory committee while considering a run, and Rep. John Sununu might offer a challenge from within GOP ranks. NORTH CAROLINA: Jesse Helms’ departure opens the field in North Carolina. OREGON: Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber is likely to make a decision by early September whether to challenge Republican incumbent Sen. Gordon Smith. SOUTH CAROLINA: The retirement of Republican Sen. Strom Thurmond makes this one of two open seats. SOUTH DAKOTA: Incumbent Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson could face a stiff challenge if GOP Rep. John Thune, already elected statewide, gets in the race. Retaking Senate becomes harder for Republicans BY WILL LESTER ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER WASHINGTON - In the 2002 elec tions for the closely matched Sen ate, Democrats have the advan tage in the number of seats at stake - highlighted by the retire ments of Southern GOP veterans Jesse Helms and Strom Thur mond. Republicans, meanwhile, have an edge with geography - de fending many seats on tradition ally Republican turf in the South and West. Broader influences like the health of the economy and per ceptions of President Bush are likely to play a crucial role in de termining who will run the Sen ate, however. Right now the playing field is about even, and everything de pends on the Bush administra tion,” said conservative analyst Bill Kristol. "The best news for Republicans is a popular Bush and a recovering economy. ... The nightmare scenario is Bush in trouble and a faltering economy.” The departure of Helms of North Carolina, one of the coun try’s most powerful conservative voices, is one of several develop ments in the coming days that could shape the landscape for Sen ate elections next year. The De mocrats gained a precarious 50-49 1 advantage after Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords switched from the GOP to independent in June. Among the 20 seats the Repub licans are defending - most in states Bush won last year - De mocrats are targeting Arkansas, New Hampshire and Oregon for possible pickups. They concede it could be tough to gain either of the two open seats in the Carolinas. Of the 14 seats the Democrats are defending, Bush won six and then-Vice President A1 Gore won eight. Republicans are targeting at least seven: Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana and South Dakota, which were won by Bush, and Iowa and Minnesota, which were won by Gore. All the Democratic incumbents are running and they have more than $1 million apiece in the bank, said Tovah Ravitz, spokeswoman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee In Tennessee, Sen. Fred Thompson, a Republican, hasn’t announced whether he’ll seek re election. Republicans could still have the advantage in GOP-lean ing Tennessee, but Thompson’s departure could give Democrats a shot. Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee, chairman of the National Repub lican Senatorial Committee, has said Republicans will run "with a lot of discipline, with a very sim ple message of retaking the United _o_» UUAIV/O uvuuic, The Bush administration, which considers reclaiming the Senate a top priority, is taking an active role in recruiting Senate candidates in Minnesota, Mis souri, South Dakota and other states. The Republican’s aggressive posture isn’t intimidating Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, chairwoman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "The country likes it when there is a debate on issues and bal ance in government,” Murray said. "They like having a Democ ratic majority in the Senate.” And she said the economy’s troubles pose "an extreme potential dan ger for the Republicans.” While Republicans acknowl edge the threat if the economy is struggling in 2002, some see Bush’s attempts to appeal to mod erate voters as a key to avoiding the congressional losses the par ty holding the White House often faces in off-year elections. “The compassionate conserva tive is an idea whose time has come,” said GOP consultant Alex Castellanos. "That could help peo ple all around the ticket.” ifeemviKsiireiuEGEiGin Out of the Vista... Back Where it Belongs! use's MOST FAMOUS College Night is Bock on r^ Potat* Tuesdays!! Tuesday. August 21st BACK TO SCHOOL BASH! FREE T-SHIRTS - FREE RED BULL - FREE CONCERT TICKETS! ALL NIGHT LONG! Tuesday. August 28th WEEK 1 - RAFTERS OWN "QUEST FOR A NEW CHEST!" 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