This year, NC voters were confronted witha Republican ticket headed up by a 72 year old white man running for President and a 72 year old white woman running for the US Senate. I guess they call that diversity but it was pretty indicative of the seven incumbents (plus McCain)
Republicans running for Federal office in North Carolina (I’m excluding Sarah Pallin as she was essentially a tag a long).
The Congressional loser for the Republicans was 63 year old Robin Hayes. Hayes was bested by 57 year old Democrat Larry Kissell. That’s part of the story as 47 year old Barack Obama and 55 year old Kay Hagan whipped the aging Dole and McCain, each 72.
The Congressional winners for NC Republicans included 77 year old Howard Coble, 67 year old Sue Myrick, and two 65 year olds in Walter Jones and Virginia Foxx. Foxx looks a good deal older than her age having the traditional old grandma look. Only Patrick McHenry, 33, is younger than the traditional retirement age and even he got an age “Schock.” McHenry is no longer the youngest House member being badly overtaken by 26 year old wunderkid/brat Aaron Schock of Illinois.
By contrast, two North Carolina Democrats are also clearly agingin 68 year old David Price and 67 year old Bob Etheridge. GK Butterfield is getting there at 61. and so is Mel Watt at 63. Larry Kissell (57), Brad Miller, Mike McIntyre (52) and Kay Hagan (55) are in what would seem prime age for a legislator. Heath Shuler at 36 is still young and hardly has the ambitious brat reputation of McHenry.
Makes one think of the two curmudgeons from Alaska (Don Young (73?) and Ted Stevens (84).