Herschensohn Opens His Second Quest for Cranston Senate Seat

Los Angeles television and radio commentator Bruce Herschensohn launched a second straight bid for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, announcing the formation of an exploratory committee that he hopes will boost him into the seat to be vacated by Democrat Alan Cranston.

Herschensohn, 58, is the second Republican to seek the retiring Cranston’s seat, and his decision sets up a near rerun of his unsuccessful bid for office in 1986.

That year, the conservative Herschensohn came in second in the Republican primary to more moderate U.S. Rep. Ed Zschau. In next year’s primary, he will face U.S. Rep. Tom Campbell, who holds the Palo Alto congressional seat held by Zschau in 1986. Campbell also has Zschau’s endorsement and has enlisted the campaign strategists and fund-raisers used by Zschau.

Campbell’s official Senate kick-off last month led directly to Herschensohn’s decision to go public with a campaign that has been widely expected for months.

“If you want to be a senator, you’d better get the organization and campaign contributions early, or someone else will beat you to it,” Herschensohn said.

With the formal filing date almost a year away and Election Day 19 months off, 10 candidates already are running for the two Both seats will be open as the result of Gov. Pete Wilson’s resignation from the Senate in January and his appointment of John F. Seymour, who by law must be ratified by voters in the next federal election.

On the Democratic side, four current or former elected officials are seeking the Cranston seat--former Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr., Lt. Gov. Leo T. McCarthy and U.S. Reps. Barbara Boxer of Marin County and Robert T. Matsui of Sacramento.

Seymour faces a Republican primary challenge from U.S. Rep. William E. Dannemeyer of Fullerton. The winner will likely battle the 1990 Democratic candidate for governor, Dianne Feinstein.

Democratic State Controller Gray Davis also has formed an exploratory committee, but has yet to decide which seat he will target. Others, including Democratic U.S. Rep. Mel Levine of Santa Monica, are also said to be gearing up for the race.

Herschensohn indicated that the two imperatives for his upcoming campaign are raising money and increasing his name identification in Northern California, Campbell’s base of support.

In 1986, Herschensohn raised $1 million, a paltry sum for statewide political races these days, and was little known outside his television viewing audience in Southern California. After a bruising primary, Herschensohn defeated other conservatives but lost to Zschau, 37% to 30%.

“I don’t want to repeat any mistakes,” Herschensohn said.

A former White House assistant under President Richard M. Nixon, Herschensohn enters the race as the more classically conservative of the two Republican candidates. Campbell opposes offshore oil drilling and favors abortion rights. Herschensohn said he favors offshore drilling and believes abortion should be limited to instances of rape or incest or when the mother’s life is threatened.

The commentator also favors increased funding for the Strategic Defense Initiative, the so-called “Star Wars” program initiated during the Reagan Administration, and wants tax reform that would institute a flat percentage tax on all Americans.

Herschensohn said he plans to keep his jobs on KABC-TV’s “Eyewitness News” and on KABC radio until campaigning takes up all of his time.

During the early months of Herschensohn’s previous campaign--and in campaigns by other television personalities--controversy has arisen over whether the forum offers an unfair advantage. Herschensohn said that in his opinion it does not, and countered that Campbell can take advantage of congressional perks.