Since North Carolina voted for Obama and more importantly voted Sen. Dole out of office in 2008, Sen. Burr became an immediate target for the national and state Democratic Parties.
While his seat continues to be ranked as one likely for turnover in 2010 and continued polling shows Burr’s approval ratings in the mid 30’s (along with Sen. Hagan and Gov. Perdue… virtually every statewide elected official), Democrats have been unable to field a candidate to their liking.
Not a peep has been heard from favorite son Richard Moore, former state treasurer and 2008 candidate for governor. The wooing has been intense for former Lt. Gov. Dennis Wicker and Rep. Bob Etheridge – however neither heavyweight has yet to tip their hand.
The strongest candidate to declare their candidacy has been Secretary of State Elaine Marshall. While widely respected in her party and indeed N.C., Marshall placed a distant third in her last bid for the U.S. Senate, losing to Erskine Bowles and Dan Blue. She raised eyebrows when choosing to not even hold a press conference announcing her bid. Also, I am truly not sure the majority of N.C. voters are ready for three females in the state’s top political offices.
As both parties head into the holidays, expect the behind-the-scenes courtship of a ‘top-tier’ candidate to increase rapidly. Democrats need to find someone with the political savvy, monetary warchest and high statewide name ID to pose a serious threat to Burr.
With $3.4 million in campaign funds he has on-hand (compared to Marshall’s $180,000), no serious skeletons in the closet and according to Erskine Bowles* an incredible work ethic for our state, it’s no wonder why the serious candidates are taking a long, hard look as to what it will take to beat Richard Burr.
*Burr’s former opponent for his seat was quoted last week saying, “Nobody works harder or smarter for North Carolina than Richard Burr does.”
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