With Roy Cooper out of the running for the Democratic nomination against GOP non-entity Richard Burr, CNN reports that the DSCC is putting out feelers to four potential candidates — including one who previously passed on the race:
Still, the DSCC – which is otherwise staying mum on the recruitment process – is taking four Democratic candidates seriously at the moment, according to a committee source.
Their top candidates are, in no particular order: Rep. Heath Shuler, the former NFL quarterback and second term congressman from western North Carolina’s 11th district; Rep. Bob Etheridge from the Raleigh-area second district; former state Treasurer Richard Moore, who lost in the state’s Democratic gubernatorial primary last year; and Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton.
Shuler, who declined to run for this race back in March, has been receiving encouragement to reconsider the race from Dem groups in DC and North Carolina, according to a spokesperson.
Aside from Shuler, who brings a unique strength in western NC to a hypothetical race, the DSCC appears to looking at candidates with a statewide track record first, and they have a lot to choose from here. Dalton, a former state senator, won the Lt. Governor’s race by a five-point margin in 2008, while Etheridge served for two terms as NC’s Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1988-1996. (Additionally, Etheridge’s Raleigh-area district, which Obama carried last fall, would be an easier hold for Democrats than Shuler’s or Mike McIntyre’s seats.) However, Etheridge is getting a bit long in the tooth for someone looking to join the Senate — he’ll be 69 years old by election day in 2010.
For more details on the long list of potential nominees, the Winston-Salem Journal has a brief rundown on the DSCC’s top four choices and many other possible recruits.
(H/T: Political Wire)
I guess here in GA its a little tougher for a Democrat to win than in NC against a crappy opponent like Burr but I really admire Shuler’s ability to win a district that is fairly similar to North GA yet which elected him pretty convincingly in 2006 and 2008 which I do not really understand so well.
But yeah if I could have my pick none of these would be it but I’m really happy to think of NC being a two Democrat delegation in the US Senate considering where it was until recently (pre-2006 I suppose).
North Carolina has four Democratic women elected statewide, not counting Kay Hagan. So, why in the world aren’t any of them on the list? Between Sec. of State Elaine Marshall, State Auditor Beth Wood, State Treasurer Janet Cowell, and Superintendent June Atkinson, there’s some great talent among Democratic women in North Carolina.
On top of that, why isn’t the popular, and rather dynamic, Grier Martin up on that list? Hell, last time Shumer tried to keep Kay Hagan out so Grier would run, and he’s definately a rising star in NC.
Honestly, he may be the only kind of Dem who could win his district, but statewide we can elect more moderate candidates. If Heath is the nominee, I’d probably vote for Burr, since if we’re going to have a Senator blocking the President’s agenda, I’d rather it be a Republican. However, I could support any of the other people mentioned. I hope Marshall runs. Also, Moore could do well if he’s willing to mend some bridges. But if Burr is reelected I’ll find it awfully hard to support Cooper in any future races – we deserve a much better senator and their are plenty of NC Democrats who could give us that.
If I had to pick my top 4, I would definitely have included Grier Martin. I’m not sure why Grier is not on this list.
Heath Shuler is exactly where he needs to be…in the House representing a fairly conservative district. Heath would probably be to the right of Ben Nelson.
Bob Etheridge is a fine person…and he’s electable. But he’s getting a bit old to consider a run for the Senate. If he was 10 years younger, I would be supporting him.
Walter Dalton was just elected as Lt. Governor in 2008. I know the NC electorate, and I just don’t believe that NC would support Walter making a jump into this race. North Carolina didn’t like it that John Edwards was running for President in 2004 because he didn’t represent NC while he was gone. I think he’s not a good choice.
Richard Moore is a fine candidate, and I like Richard a lot. He’s a smart man, and he did a great job as Treasurer. But he was engaged in a nasty primary with Bev Perdue. I think that he’s got some fences to mend before he can run again.
Jim Neal as a possible candidate? He seemed to have quite a bit of netroots support back in last year’s primary. Has he indicated he doesn’t want to run?
Those four potential candidates are quite the step down from Cooper. I’m really disappointed he passed the race up, and I’m wondering what exactly his next move is.
Cal Cunningham is being mentioned a bit on this thread at BlueNC blog.
Cunningham mulls Senate run
His bio looks interesting. Former NC state senator. Served in Iraq as a JAG prosecuting contractor misconduct,
& won some medals there. Cal Cunningham wiki
He’s the only one that excites me out of the full Cooper-less slate. Richard Moore is the best of this lot, I suppose.
No on Shuler. Not just because he’s somewhere to the right of Arlen Specter, but personally, he just doesn’t cut it. The man is an idiot. We can do better.
Shuler is okay, but “do better than him” is a valid argument.
The point so far, and in 2008, is that on-paper fine NC candidates either have no spine or just don’t want to be a Senator. The people who mention they are interested are ones jumping a pay grade.
It would make sense to give both him and Moore another push after he decided not to run.
Richard Moore – if he can mend fences with Bev Perdue
Elaine Marshall – Sec of State, elected statewide 4 times
Melanie Goodwin – State Rep, wife of Insur Comm Wayne Goodwin
Grier Martin – State Rep
We don’t need to send another blue dog to the US Senate, ready to jump ship on the Democratic agenda at any time. We need someone who can draw a clear contrast to Burr. Burr-lite just won’t do.
Under The Dome, The Raleigh News and Observer’s political blog, reports that Martin won’t run against Burr for Senate in 2010.
He challened Patrick McHenry in NC-10 in 2008 and would be a solid candidate for statewide office.
Of course, President Obama may make him US Attorney for Western NC first. And Hampton Dellinger (ran for Lt Gov in 2008) may get the central NC post.
http://projects.newsobserver.c…