Colorado Rep. Campbell Wins U.S. Senate Primary

Colorado Rep. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, the only American Indian in Congress, Tuesday won a Democratic U.S. Senate primary that pitted three of Colorado’s best-known politicians.

In Georgia, Rep. Charles Hatcher, one of the worst abusers of the now-closed House bank, was ousted in a runoff election with state Sen. Sanford Bishop.

Campbell had been considered a slight favorite in the Colorado race over former Gov. Richard D. Lamm and Josie Heath, a former county commissioner who lost a 1990 Senate race.

With 71% of the precincts reporting, Campbell had 88,090 votes, or 50%, to Lamm’s 59,580, or 34%, and Heath’s 30,167, or 17%.

In Georgia, Hatcher, who wrote 819 bad checks on the House bank, lost to Bishop by 53% to 47%. He was pushed into the runoff when he fell short of a majority in the primary.

Hatcher is the 16th member of the House to lose a primary election this year, and the second from Georgia. Democratic Rep. Ben Jones was defeated three weeks ago in a primary bid.

Another Georgia runoff, a Republican Senate race between former Peace Corps director Paul Coverdell and former U.S. Atty. Bob Barr, was too close to call. With 99% of the precincts reporting, Barr had 78,134 votes to Coverdell’s 79,821. The winner faces first-term Democratic Sen. Wyche Fowler Jr. in November.

Campbell, who is half Northern Cheyenne, will face Republican state Sen. Terry Considine in November for the seat being given up by Democratic Sen. Timothy E. Wirth.

The three Colorado Democrats jumped into the race within hours of one another in April after Wirth made the stunning announcement that he would not seek a second term.

Lamm, who was Colorado’s longest-serving governor, became known in the 1980s as “Gov. Gloom” for his dire predictions about the nation’s future. He initially was considered the election favorite, but it soon became apparent that some groups angered by his outspokenness during his last years in office had not forgotten.

Latinos bitterly recalled his opposition to free immigration and multiculturalism, while the elderly remembered his remark that the terminally ill have a “duty to die.” Other critics also came forward as Lamm promoted his “hard choices” agenda for solving the nation’s ills.

Campbell, a three-term congressman, overtook Lamm in the polls in June, and at the state Democratic convention he gained the top line on the primary ballot. He urged tax cuts for the middle class and sought a broader appeal with his more moderate views.

Heath, a former schoolteacher and Boulder County commissioner who lost to Republican Hank Brown in 1990, mounted a petition drive to get on the ballot.

Lamm and Heath claimed Campbell bowed to special interests by accepting political action committee campaign contributions. Campbell said he did not have wealthy friends on whom he could depend.