'Thurmon-ator' Looks Good To Break Senate Records

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AllPolitics, Nov. 2) -- It looks as though Republican Strom Thurmond may well get his wish to break the record for longest-serving senator. If re-elected to a seventh full term, Thurmond would set the record for longest length of service in the Senate about six months into the 105th Congress.

At 93, Thurmond already is the oldest living senator ever, and his age appeared to be his biggest stumbling block as he began his bid for re-election.

But his Democratic opponent, real estate developer and textile heir Elliott Close, while wealthy and well-financed, has had a difficult time making the case that he is a better alternative to Thurmond, who is a living legend in the state. Charles W. Dunn, a political scientist at Clemson University, said Close can't win "unless Strom Thurmond stumbles, and it's going to have to be a big stumble."

Close, who has pumped more than $650,000 of his own money into his campaign, initially was subtle concerning Thurmond's age. But in October, he launched a TV ad, in which actors portraying voters said, "It's about time he retired," and "It's about time for him to come home."

Despite this, a late September independent poll showed Thurmond with a comfortable, 51-38 percent lead over Close.

It is not just voter habit that makes Thurmond the favorite. A founder of the modern South Carolina Republican Party, his conservatism fits his constituency. His chairmanship of the Senate Armed Services Committee is also important to a state with a large defense industry.

Close, running in a state that has been unfriendly to Democrats in recent elections, proclaimed in his TV ad that he is a "new conservative" for the next century.

He has focused on political reform issues, in addition to the typical array of themes being echoed by many Democratic challengers this year such as a pledge to protect Medicare. He backs term limits, a balanced-budget constitutional amendment and campaign finance reform that would ban contributions from political action committees, set campaign spending limits and limit out-of-state campaign donations to 20 percent of all contributions.

He has criticized Thurmond for refusing to debate him and claims the senator is purposely avoiding such public events. Thurmond's campaign says the senator does not want to give Close any free publicity.

While trying to snag Thurmond, Close has had to deflect some negative publicity concerning his family's business, Springs Industries. Workers upset over the closings of three of the company's textile mills lashed out at Close this summer. Close says while he sympathizes with the workers' plight, he is only a stockholder in the company and has no control over Springs Industries' day-to-day operations.

Thurmond has been emphasizing his experience and clout in Washington and dismisses Close as too inexperienced to serve in the Senate. "He's a nice fellow who inherited some money," said Tony Denny, Thurmond's campaign manager. "He might be a legitimate candidate for town council."

Congressional Quarterly contributed to this report.

Related Stories:

• Thurmond, Warner Win GOP Primaries -- June 11, 1996
• South Carolina's Thurmond Still Running At 93 -- May 9, 1996

Related Links:

• North Carolina State Profile