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14-TERM CONGRESSMAN ENDS SPECULATION OVER RETIREMENT
Congressman John Spratt has ended months of speculation over whether he will resign or run to retain his seat next year.
On Monday, the 14-term Democrat officially filed for re-election with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
The FEC filing showed Spratt, 67, with nearly $600,000 cash-on-hand. He is currently South Carolina’s longest-serving Congressman.
A number of media outlets had been probing Spratt’s intentions of late, which likely pressured him into making a decisive move before he lost the support of his 5th district base.
“Washington is sort of like an echo chamber,” Spratt told the Rock Hill Herald on Monday. “Somebody says something and somebody else picks up on it. The next thing you know, a half dozen people are picking up on something they heard.”
Spratt, who chairs the House Budget Committee, faces opposition from Republican State Sen. Mick Mulvaney (R-Lancaster) in a fairly rural, conservative district. But Spratt has been able to easily dismiss Republican opposition in the past.
However, Spratt’s support for a public option in the Democrats health care bill and the perception that he has become a lap dog for President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could prove quite problematic this go around.
Should be an interesting race, either way. Especially if former 5th district Republican nominee Ralph Norman throws his hat in the race.
[...] that announce that they will seek re-election in 2010. The Democrats that made that call today were John Spratt (whose seat in South Carolina would have been a very tricky hold for the Democrats had it come [...]
Spratt will continue to trounce opponents as long as he maintains the constituent service that he has for the last 26 years. I had cause to work with many “congressional” staffs for several years. Strom and Spratt’s are (well were in Strom’s case) among the best. Policy and Politics are not the issue to “Ma and Pa” in rural York county. “Congressman Spratt’s” willingness to help with “…my problem…” is THE issue.
Whether you like his politics or not, Spratt’s biggest risk this time around is the influx of new voters along the NC/SC line, Rock Hill/Fort Mill area who vote politics and policy vice service. I for one like and respect the man, even though I disagree with 95% of his politics.
He can be beaten but woe be unto whoever does beat him and then fails to meet his staff’s level of service. Should be an interesting race alright.
Nice guy or not its time to run all collectivist jerks out of office whenever and wherever possible.
John Spratt is the best elected public servant the 5th District has ever seen. When I think of the phrase “Do the right thing,” I reference it to what congressional legislation stand John Spratt makes.
Congress needs more independent ‘thinkers’ like John Spratt, not less.
Gloria: He has voted with Pelosi 98% of the time. He told is constituents he was “undecided” on health care, but the whole time was solidly in the “yes” column on the whip list that leaked two weeks before the vote.
Please tell me how that is an “independent thinker.”
20 years ago? maybe he was. But in 2006 he sold his soul for the Budget Chairmanship, and has never been the same.
28 years is too long. Time for him to go.
[...] announced his candidacy in October. Spratt confirmed that he would seek re-election two months later. Posted in SC Politics, Top Story [...]
He already voted on the health care bill and it BARELY passed 220-215, so there is no Democratic margin for error… Obama has already stated he is going to force cloture through the senate to get it passed so its up to us to stop it in the house. We all need to call him at his DC office (202) 225-5501 and his local office (803) 327-1114 to make it well known that if he doesn’t listen to his constituents and vote NO then we will do everything possible to campain against him. Its his political death sentence.