Rep. Broyhill Named to East’s Seat in Senate

North Carolina Gov. James G. Martin Thursday selected Rep. James T. Broyhill to fill the vacancy created by the death of Republican Sen. John P. East, a political gamble that could affect the critical struggle for control of the U.S. Senate this November.

Ever since East announced his decision to retire this year because of ill health, national strategists for both parties here have viewed North Carolina as a key battleground in Democratic efforts to erase the 53-47 majority Republicans hold in the Senate.

The elevation of Broyhill, previously selected by the GOP as its Senate candidate, is a calculated risk: Although the move will give him the practical and symbolic advantages of incumbency, it could also inflame tensions within the party and thus weaken Broyhill’s chances against Democratic nominee Terry Sanford.

‘An Outstanding Man’

As the GOP’s nominee to succeed East, who took his own life last weekend, Broyhill was the logical choice for Gov. Martin to make. In welcoming the 58-year-old Broyhill, a veteran of nearly 24 years in the House, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) called him “an outstanding man” and “a real pro.”

Democrats acknowledge that the appointment will enhance Broyhill’s prestige and increase his name recognition in the state. At the same time, however, they believe he may become more vulnerable to criticism from the state’s senior Republican senator, Jesse Helms, and his conservative supporters, who opposed Broyhill as too moderate in a bitterly fought primary campaign.

“Now he (Broyhill) will have to vote on the same issues Jesse Helms votes on in the Senate,” said Gary Pearce, press secretary to former Democratic Gov. James B. Hunt Jr., whom Helms defeated in 1984. “And, if he votes differently, he’ll have to explain why.”

Conservatives Dissatisfied

Continued dissatisfaction of conservative Republicans with Broyhill was signaled at East’s funeral earlier this week when Tom Ellis, a close Helms associate, recommended that Gov. Martin choose David B. Funderburk, Broyhill’s primary opponent, as East’s successor. Funderburk is considered a Helms protege, as was East.

Ellis could not be reached for comment after Broyhill’s appointment was announced Thursday in Raleigh. But another prominent ally of Helms, Hoover Adams, editor and publisher of the Dunn, N.C., Daily Record, said in a telephone interview: “I think the governor made a mistake by not appointing Funderburk.” By selecting Broyhill instead, Martin “has probably added to the divisiveness” in the GOP, he added.

Crossovers Doubted

Adams, who described himself as a “a Helms Democrat,” said he doubts that many Democrats will switch over to vote for Broyhill in November--as they had crossed party lines in helping to elect Helms and East--because Broyhill’s record is not different enough from that of Democrat Sanford. Adams said he himself probably will vote for Sanford, who was a popular North Carolina governor in the 1960s.

Sanford, when asked at a press conference in Raleigh whether he believes that Broyhill will try to take advantage of his Senate post in his campaign, replied: “I would.”

Democrats here noted that Sanford has been leading in most early opinion surveys and took the position that nothing was changed by the appointment. Broyhill “will still have to defend the same Republican policies which have hurt the state’s economy,” said Maine Sen. George J. Mitchell, chairman of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee.