COLUMBIA - As Democrats gather at the Galivants Ferry Stump today to honor U.S. Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings' half-century mark, there's a looming question about who will be the state party's new leader when he retires.

Since Hollings, who is not seeking a seventh term, launched his statewide political career at the stump in 1954, the Democrats have slipped from power.

While the weakened party attempts to rebuild itself, party members say it will be tough to fill the void of Hollings' clout and stature, which took decades to build.

"With Senator Hollings stepping down, it's not like he passes the torch to a new dean. Nobody can walk in those shoes," said state party Chairman Joe Erwin. "We're all going to have to work that much harder."

Hollings will leave his post up for grabs in South Carolina where the GOP already dominates the congressional delegation and controls the governor's office and Legislature.

Veteran Democrats U.S. Reps. Jim Clyburn and John Spratt, who are expected to honor Hollings at Monday's event, say they're ready to step up and play bigger roles.

"I guess I graduate to the dean of the delegation, but I don't think for one minute I will be equal to Senator Hollings and what he's been able to do," said Spratt, who's been in Congress since 1983.

Clyburn, a six-term congressman, said Spratt has a long and illustrious career.

"I think the heir-apparent to Fritz Hollings is John Spratt," he said. "John Spratt, I think, is much more of a policy wonk than I am, and Fritz Hollings was a bit of a policy wonk."

Hollings declined an interview request last week.

Republicans were left without their patriarch last year when U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond retired in January 2003 then died in June, but unlike the Democrats, the GOP has a long list of rising stars.

"We've got great players in the Democratic Party, and we've got great players in the Republican Party," said Winthrop University political scientist Scott Huffmon. "The Democrats don't have a deep bench. All of their great players are in the game. Republicans have a bit deeper of a bench."

In the past year, Democrats have been energized by Erwin's new leadership and attracted new faces with the high-profile presidential primary in February.

"Right now, it's getting a lot more exciting and enjoyable to be a South Carolina Democrat," Erwin said.

Party faithful hope to rally more support at the Galivants Ferry Stump, a 124-year-old grass-roots political rally for Democrats trying to muster support heading into June primaries. It was at the stump a half-century ago that Hollings announced his bid for lieutenant governor when his party dominated the state. Today, the party is working to reinvent itself. "We are not going to take any voters for granted, and that's happened in the past and that's not good," Erwin said.

State House Minority Leader James Smith, D-Columbia, said the party has recruited a good class of candidates for the November elections. "We need people who care more about doing the job than keeping it and think beyond just the next election," he said. "I am most encouraged by ... the growth of involvement of young people and young professionals."

Many of the newly reorganized Young Democrats are carpooling to the stump to get their fill of chicken bog and political fire. "I think everybody who would call themselves a South Carolina Democrat would say this: They're lifting their heads a little bit higher, and they've got a little giddy-up in their step right now," Erwin said.