Cranston Faces Challenge for Senate Post

WASHINGTON — Sen. Alan Cranston (D-Calif.), who is already facing a likely Democratic challenge in his 1992 bid for reelection, also will have a strong opponent next December when he stands for reelection as assistant majority leader in the Senate.

Sen. Wendell H. Ford (D-Ky.) has announced that he will challenge Cranston for his Senate leadership position when the election is held at the end of this year. Although Ford also challenged Cranston for the position a year ago at the start of the 101st Congress, the Kentucky senator entered the race in mid-September after Cranston already had lined up most of his support.

By announcing his candidacy now, according to an aide, Ford expects to pose a more serious threat to Cranston next December, when members of the Senate will meet in closed session to elect their leaders for the next two-year session of Congress.

The challenge comes at a time when Cranston is under investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee as part of its inquiry into the Lincoln Savings & Loan scandal.

Ford, who currently chairs the powerful Senate Rules Committee, said he decided to run for the position of assistant majority leader--commonly known as “whip”--at the urging of many of his Senate colleagues, whom he did not name. He also will seek reelection to the Senate this year.

“In recent days, many of my colleagues have sought me out, urging me to stay in the Senate and saying that they expect me to run again for the post of Democratic whip next year,” he said in a statement.

Cranston has already indicated that he will seek reelection as whip in the 102nd Congress, which convenes next January, and that he will stand for a fifth term in 1992.

On Friday, Victoria Leon, Cranston’s assistant press secretary, said that the senator has expected a challenge from Ford and would have no comment on the Kentucky senator’s announcement.

Earlier this week, Rep. Robert T. Matsui (D-Sacramento) told friends in Washington that he intends to challenge Cranston for the Democratic nomination for Senate in 1992. He is the first of several challengers who are expected to oppose Cranston for the nomination.

In his announcement, Ford made no mention of the Senate Ethics Committee investigation of Cranston and four other senators who sought to help Lincoln owner Charles H. Keating Jr. while receiving large campaign contributions from him. Nevertheless, the Keating affair is certain to be a central issue in the whip race.

Although some senators may be reluctant to reelect a leader whose reputation may have been tarnished by an ethics investigation, they also would be sensitive to the possible negative impact that such a defeat might have on Cranston’s chances of being reelected by the California voters in 1992.

A recent Times poll found that Cranston’s popularity had plunged from a 56% favorable, 32% unfavorable reading as recently as early October to a 32% favorable, 58% unfavorable rating in early December.