|
|
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource."
|
Democrats consider giving Dole free pass
|
|---|
| Parent(s) |
Candidate
|
| Contributor | The Sunset Provision |
| Last Edited | The Sunset Provision Jul 09, 2007 10:08pm |
| Logged |
0
|
| Category | News |
| Media | Newspaper - Charlotte Observer |
| News Date | Tuesday, July 10, 2007 04:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Outgoing Gov. Mike Easley insists he's not interested. Beverly Perdue and Richard Moore are busy preparing to run for Easley's job. Attorney General Roy Cooper and Rep. Brad Miller are happy with their current gigs.
So much for wondering which A-list candidate will run next year against incumbent GOP Sen. Elizabeth Dole. At this point, the better question might be whether she'll face any substantive challenge at all. Or whether the state's Democrats should even bother.
"Give her a pass," said Democratic consultant Brad Crone, who works largely on legislative races for state office. "My recommendation would be not to put a lot of time, effort and energy on the United States Senate race."
Some Democrats point to polls showing that Dole is vulnerable, in part because of her continued support for President Bush's Iraq war policy and poor showing raising money for GOP Senate candidates in 2006. Dole is often mentioned as a Democratic target for takeover in 2008.
But Crone said his party should instead focus on keeping control of the governor's mansion and General Assembly or further increasing its hold on the state's U.S. House delegation. It also may not be a stretch, if Republican problems persist nationally, to aim for pushing North Carolina's 15 electoral votes for president into the Democratic column.
While Republicans would surely take an easy re-election for Dole, the GOP also stands to benefit from a reputable Democratic challenger who spends millions to run against Dole but ultimately fails to knock her from office. That would siphon away money from other Democratic candidates.
|
| Share |
|
|
2¢
|
|
| Article | Read Full Article |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
|
