National Perspective : ’94 ELECTIONS / Senate Showdown

Next week’s election could see the Republican Party gain control of the Senate for the first time since 1982. Here is a look at some of the key races:

Virginia: First-term Democratic Sen. Charles S. Robb is facing a strong challenge from Republican Oliver L. North. Both candidates have been scarred by political scandals, and the race is one of the nastiest and most expensive in the nation. North has spent a near record $17.5 million so far. J. Marshall Coleman, the former state attorney general who lost his bid to win the Republican nomination, is running a distant third as an independent.

California: Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, elected to office two years ago, has watched a double-digit lead evaporate to less than 3 percentage points among likely voters. Her challenger, Republican Rep. Mike Huffington, has spent almost $20 million of his personal fortune in what has become the most expensive Senate campaign in history.

Nebraska: Sen. Bob Kerrey, former candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, is expected to sail to victory over businesswoman Jan Stoney. The National Rifle Assn. has been running ads against Kerrey because of his vote in support of President Clinton’s crime bill.

Massachusetts: In a wild race that has gone up and down faster than the Dow Jones, six-time Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy has reclaimed the lead after slipping several points behind Republican businessman and political novice Mitt Romney. Kennedy’s ads have been focusing on his effectiveness and influence in Washington, while Romney is highlighting the need for change.

Pennsylvania: Democratic Sen. Harris Wofford, who came into office in an upset victory based largely on an appeal for health care reform, is facing Republican Rep. Rick Santorum. A poll last week showed the race in a dead heat among likely voters--with 20% still undecided. Santorum has attacked Wofford for his big-government, liberal themes and has even made an issue of Wofford’s campaign consultants, James Carville.

Tennessee: Both Senate seats are up for grabs this year. Democratic incumbent Jim Sasser is battling political neophyte and heart surgeon Bill Frist. Sasser has made the millionaire’s lifestyle an issue in the campaign, while Frist has tried to turn the election into a referendum on all Democrats--lumping Sasser with “Ted (Kennedy), (Rep. Dan) Rostenkowski and little slick Will (Clinton).” With the retirement of Sen. George J. Mitchell (D-Me.), Sasser also is hoping to become the new majority leader--should the Democrats retain control of the Senate.

Montana: Sen. Conrad Burns, the first Montana Republican to hold a Senate seat since 1953, is battling Democratic attorney Jack Mudd. While Burns has maintained a solid lead in the polls, Mudd is trying to exploit a media incident that was created when Burns uttered a racial slur. Abortion rights groups also have mobilized to help Mudd. Burns is an abortion foe.

New Jersey: In a recent debate, Democratic incumbent Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg and state Speaker Chuck Haytaian, a Republican, differed on taxes and crime, but managed to avoid key questions on term limits, health care and gun control. Lautenberg has condemned Haytaian for appearing on a local talk show whose host has made racist remarks on the air. In Haytaian’s newest ad, popular Republican Gov. Christine Todd Whitman attacked Lautenberg for negative campaigning.

Michigan: In an open race, Republican first-time candidate Spencer Abraham has been leading nine-term Democratic Rep. Bob Carr through most of the campaign. But recent polls show the candidates in a virtual tie. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton campaigned for Carr last week, while actor Charlton Heston has appeared on behalf of Abraham. Republicans have not held a Michigan Senate seat since 1978.

Current Makeup of Senate GOP seats: 44 Dem. seats: 56 Of Seats on the Ballot . . . Held by GOP: 13 Held by Dems: 22

States where Democrat holds seat Arizona California Connecticut Hawaii Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Nebraska Nevada New Jersey New Mexico New York North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania Tennessee Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin

States where Republican holds seat Delaware Florida Indiana Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Rhode Island Texas Utah Vermont Washington Wyoming

No Senate race Alabama Alaska Arkansas Colorado Georgia Idaho Illinois Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana New Hampshire North Carolina Oregon South Carolina South Dakota

Financing Sets Record

Candidates have raised a record amount of money while running for the 35 seats up for grabs, according to Common Cause. The previous Senate record was set in 1992.

In millions ‘92: $174 ‘93: $212

Biggest Spenders (in millions)

Total Cash State Party receipts on hand Mike Huffington Calif. R $18.048 $.150 Oliver L. North Va. R $15.202 $1.046 Dianne Feinstein Calif. D $9.198 $.218 Richard Fisher Tex. D $5.654 $.157 Edward M. Kennedy Mass. D $6.999 $2.341 Mitt Romney Mass. R $4.381 $.154 Mike DeWine Ohio R $4.480 $.572 Kay Bailey Hutchison Tex. R $5.614 $1.758 Herb Kohl Wisc. D $3.687 $.018 Rick Santorum Pa. R $4.560 $1.049

Financing figures in both charts above are from Sept. 30 FEC reports. Rankings based on total spent.

Poll Standings

The latest standings for each party candidate in the 34 states with Senate elections:

% % Margin GOP Dem. of error Arizona 43% 38% 3.0 California 45% 48% 4.0 Connecticut 19% 68% 5.8 Delaware 59% 30% 5.8 Florida 65% 20% 3.5 Hawaii na na na Indiana 52% 11% 3.5 Maine 50% 31% 4.3 Maryland 32% 57% 3.5 Massachusetts 36% 56%5.0 Michigan 39% 32% 4.0 Minnesota 37% 42% 4.0 Mississippi 60% 28% 4.0 Missouri 57% 25% 3.5 Montana 52% 37% 3.5 Nebraska 38% 55% 3.5 Nevada 31% 55% 3.5 New Jersey 38% 54% 3.5 New Mexico 39% 48% 4.9 New York 25% 61% 4.5 North Dakota 28% 60% 4.5 Ohio 51% 41% 5.0 Oklahoma 43% 37% 3.5 Pennsylvania 40% 40% 3.5 Rhode Island 54% 18% 5.0 Tenn.(Sasser) 40% 43% 3.5 Tenn.(open) 46% 40% 3.5 Texas 55% 36% Utah 59% 24% 4.2 Vermont 45% 37% 5.0 Virginia 33% 32% 4.0 Washington 47% 41% 4.5 West Virginia 16% 70% 5.0 Wisconsin 29% 59% 3.5 Wyoming 48% 38% 4.5

As compiled by the Political Hotline, based on the most recent major polls in each area.

na=no current data available

Sources: Congressional Quarterly, Political Hotline, Federal Election Commission, Common Cause