Former Senate Commerce Committee chairman Larry Pressler, a Republican
defeated for re-election in 1996, is reportedly planning a political comeback by
seeking the at-large House seat in South Dakota.
Pressler didn't return calls Thursday, but his press aide in South Dakota
said Pressler would make an announcement in Humboldt, S.D., Nov. 3.
Pressler lost his seat to Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) nine months after
President Clinton signed the Telecommunications Act of 1996, a landmark law that
Pressler played a big role in getting the Congress to pass with large bipartisan
support.
Pressler, 59, served in the House from 1975 through 1979 and in the Senate
from 1979 through 1997. Since his defeat, he has been a Washington lobbyist and
a teacher at UCLA and the University of South Dakota.
Pressler is expected to run in a primary against four other candidates. The
seat became vacant when incumbent Rep. John Thune (R-S.D.) announced that he
would challenge Johnson for the Senate seat in 2002.
