Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a colorful moderate who has had rocky relations with fellow Democrats in Congress and his home state of Colorado, is defecting to join the Republican Party. He is the second Democratic senator to switch since last year's elections.
Campbell informed Democratic leaders, including President Clinton, of his plans early Friday. He was announcing his switch at a late morning news conference with Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, according to spokesmen for Campbell and Dole.GOP officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Campbell has been talking to Dole and Colorado Republicans about switching for several weeks. He had planned an announcement later this month or next month, but moved it up because he was angry that Senate Democrats defeated the balanced budget amendment on Thursday, they said.
Campbell's switch would boost the Republican majority in the Senate to 54-46. Republicans had 52 seats as a result of the Nov. 8 elections, but Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby announced the next day that he was switching to join the Republicans.
Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota predicted Campbell would be uncomfortable in a party he said was trying to "annihilate many of the programs Ben Campbell has stood for all his life."