NC-Sen: Shuler Won’t Challenge Burr

The Associated Press:

North Carolina U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler said Monday he will not run for Senate in 2010, declining a chance to seek a seat in the upper chamber as Democrats try to expand their majority on Capitol Hill.

Shuler said he was flattered to have so many people ask him to challenge Republican Sen. Richard Burr.

“However, with our nation facing the most difficult economic times in generations, I feel my efforts are better utilized focusing on solutions to these challenges rather than campaigning across the state,” Shuler said in a statement.

While Shuler definitely would have brought some strengths to the table as a general election candidate in North Carolina, he’s certainly well to the right of most non-DINO Democrats in the Tar Heel state these days… and that could have given him some serious problems in a contested statewide primary. If this move frees up Attorney General Roy Cooper to take a closer look at the race — who would probably be a stronger candidate in the general election anyway — then this could be pretty good news. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

40 thoughts on “NC-Sen: Shuler Won’t Challenge Burr”

  4. I don’t know, I’m starting to get worried about NC.  Sure we had Hagan last cycle and people keep bringing that up, but It doesn’t mean its going to happen again.  It just seems there are way too many complacent Democrats in NC.  I really hope Cooper runs, otherwise Easley is probably our best bet, but I doubt he runs.

  5. Schuler: I want to run for senate against Burr.

    Cooper: …I want to run for senate against Burr.

    Schuler: Oh, ok.  

    Cooper: Glad we cleared that up.

  6. He turns 70 in 2010, but I would still support him if he’s interested. According to his wikipedia page:

    He was an early opponent of the Iraq War. He has had one sponsored bill enacted since 1997 and has sponsored a potential bill to bring conduct of private military companies working in Iraq under legal jurisdiction of the United States. He has also introduced legislation to prohibit contractors from performing interrogations of prisoners in the custody of intelligence agencies.

    NC-04 is D+6 so don’t worry about an open race there.

  8. I dont remember the last time the Dems needed a Dem in the mold of Heath Shuler to get a Senate seat but i know it hasnt been anytime soon. John Edwards, though probably a moderate then, was a good example in 1998. If Shuler had moved back to Tennessee (where he went to college) and got a congressional seat there (though he couldnt have got one in Knoxville, where he went to school) then he might be what the TN Democratic Party needs in order to get a Senate seat. Actually Id say hes definitely what theyd need. But NC aint TN.

  9. that Roy Cooper and Richard Blumenthal (AG of Connecticut) are friends, both of them being high profile and long-term Attorney Generals, and have worked together on national cases.  This is pertinent because Blumenthal is rumored to be considering a challenge to Lieberman in 2012, and I’m sure he’s talked to his friend about also getting into the Senate.

    If not Cooper, we got to get a little more creative (as a few other first-tier candidates have said they’re not running), but still practically anyone would have a shot against Burr.  Zero-accomplishment wingnut freshmen in a state that Obama won?  Good target, no matter who we run.

  10. Much as I dislike Burr, I’d already decided to vote for him if Shuler were the nominee.  If we’re going to elect a Senator who does nothing but obstruct the President, I’d rather that he be a Republican.  Shuler is fine for his district, the only kind of Democrat who could win there.  But he’s much too conservative for this state, just as is Burr.

    That said, Cooper’s been my top choice for quite some time now, and I really think he’ll run in the end.  But if not, Marshall would be a good pick.  She’s very popular, and we North Carolinians love voting for women.

    Still,

    “Run, Roy, Run!”

  11. I don’t know exactly what Roy Cooper is thinking, but I may have some personal insight…

    I go to a high school in NC, and the girl who sits next to me in French class goes to his church and is friends with one of Roy Cooper’s daughters. Apparently he is reluctant to run because several of his children are still school-age and he is concerned about having to live in DC or move the rest of his family away from NC.

    I think he is a great candidate though and he would be my first choice. In 2008 he got more votes than anyone else in the entire state, and percentage wise it was about 60%.

    We’ll see what happens…

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