marsha@marshablackburn.org
Posted on 03/08/2002 12:26:07 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
Popular Tennessee Republican Fred Thompson announced today, just weeks after the death of his daughter, that he would not seek another term in the Senate.
He is the fourth Republican senator to announce his retirement this election cycle, adding a wrinkle to the battle for control of the Senate this fall.
"I simply do not have the heart for another six-year term," Thompson, 59, said in a statement. "Serving in the Senate has been a tremendous honor, but I feel that I have other priorities that I need to attend to."
Several observers considered the Jan. 20 death of his daughter, Elizabeth Thompson Panici, 38, after a heart attack to be a factor, United Press International reported.
Many had thought Thompson would serve only one full term before returning to his successful legal and acting career. Before Sept. 11, his fund-raising had been far behind the typical pace for a senator considering re-election. But two weeks after the terror attacks on New York and the Pentagon, Thompson cited the need for experienced leadership in wartime and said he would run.
Although he lacked their experience, Thompson holds the same, or higher stature, in the party as three other veteran Republican senators who also have said they will not seek re-election this fall: South Carolina's Strom Thurmond, Texas' Phil Gramm and North Carolina's Jesse Helms. Some had pegged him for a presidential or vice presidential candidate.
With only a one-vote advantage by the Democrats in the Senate, the departure of Thompson will additionally tax the resources of the GOP as it tries to regain control of the upper chamber. Thompson's departure means any GOP candidate for the office will be more dependant on the national party apparatus for fund-raising, money that could be spent trying to wrest a seat away from a Democrat, rather than protect one previously held by a Republican.
Thompson was widely considered to be an overwhelming favorite for re-election.
Gore Not Interested in His Old Job
He had taken the seat vacated when Al Gore joined Bill Clinton's presidential ticket. But Gore, who lost his long-ago "home state" in his failed 2000 White House run, immediately rejected a return to the Senate.
"We have some outstanding Democratic leaders in Tennessee who I hope will be candidates," Gore said in a statement. "I will work hard to elect one of them to the Senate, but I will not be a candidate for the Senate myself."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.