Hollings Dashes Hopes That He'll Bail Out Party

[kskiska]

U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings has meant a lot to the Democratic Party during his 37-year career in Washington. He's been both its elder statesman and its ticket leader.

But he won't be its financial savior.

Hollings, 81, said Friday that if he decides against running, he won't use his excess campaign funds to bail out a state party strapped for cash.

"Absolutely not," Hollings said Friday when asked whether there was any chance of making a donation. "No, sir."

Although party leaders insisted the decision wasn't critical, others had hoped Hollings would use his campaign funds to kick in at least a portion of the $500,000 needed to put on the Feb. 3 presidential primary featuring nine hopefuls.

If he does retire, Hollings said he plans to use the nearly $1 million in his war chest to promote causes he's championed in Washington.He declined to name specific groups or causes he's considering, but Hollings has long been a supporter of a balanced budget, an opponent of the trade imbalance, and a proponent of port security and cancer research.

more…
http://www.charleston.net/stories/080203/sta_02hollings.shtml

[DagmarK]

1. Wow, he sure isn't too happy after 37 years........

I am not either.....after 41 years.

[Rose Siding]

2. The PEOPLE (the "parties") have to pay to elect a candidate?

Sounds like a poll tax, to me.

snip>
Democrats have to pay for the primary because, unlike most states, South Carolina requires its political parties to run the presidential preference votes. For the February primary, that means Democrats have to draft a polling place staff, print ballots, find space for 2,005 voting precincts and count the votes.

[dwillison]

3. Politicians from both sides use this ploy. Funnel the war chest

to certain foundations and get a return by various means;jobs for family or friends, preservation societies that are especially concerned about the erosion in the area the politician's beach or mountain home is located'etc.

[DagmarK]

4. And buildings named after them too! n/t

*

[JasonBerry]

5. With TRUE Campaign Finance Reform....

Of course, if we had real campaign finance reform in this country, Senator Hollings wouldn't have an excess of campaign funds at his disposal that could be used after his campaign on unrelated activities -- period.

[mndemocrat_29]

6. Has Fritz decided whether he's running?

I've always liked Sen. Hollings, but I think that the time has come for him to retire. If Inez Tenenbaum is open to running, we could easily win this seat. Hollings wanted to retire in 1992 and 1998, but didn't because Democrats didn't have a plausible candidate. Now they do and Hollings could leave undefeated, knowing that a Democrat will succeed him.