So Earth, what are your thoughts on this guy:

Quote :

"Grier Martin (born 1968 in Charlotte, North Carolina) is a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's 34th House District since 2004. His district includes the northern part of Raleigh in Wake County. Martin chairs the Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee.[1] He is an attorney from Raleigh and is the son of D.G. Martin. Martin was first elected in the 2004 elections, defeating incumbent Republican Don Munford.[2] Martin defeated Republican J.H. Ross in the November 2006 election.[3] In his tenure, Martin has received the Disabled American Veterans of North Carolina "Legislator of the Year" award, the Pesticide Education Project (now Toxic Free NC) "Legislative Leadership" award, and was named a "Freshman of the Year" by the Conservation Council of North Carolina.[4] Martin is currently a major in the US Army Reserve and served in Afghanistan in 2002-03.[5] He is a graduate of the Army's Airborne School, Air Assault School, and the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course. Martin graduated from Davidson College and the University of North Carolina School of Law where he served as a Note Editor of the North Carolina Law Review.[5] He also has a LL.M degree in Military Law (International and Operational Law concentration) from the Judge Advocate General's School. He is married with one daughter."

5/18/2009 5:48:26 AM

^
I don't know, Sup, he looks like another lawyer-type. I wish they would put out more of their basic philosophy..so we can see where they are coming from intellectually.

But I think a conservative democrat could knock out Burr...who definitely deserves knocking out.
I just wish a better conservative was available.

5/18/2009 10:47:55 AM

http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2009/05/cooper-announcement-doesnt-really.html

Quote :

"Cooper announcement doesn't really change Burr vulnerability There's no doubt that Democrats would have liked for Roy Cooper to be their candidate for the US Senate next year. But the news today that he's not running doesn't make Richard Burr that much less vulnerable than he was a week ago. Like the Senate election in North Carolina last year, next year's contest is likely to be much more a referendum on Burr than his Democratic opponent. The fact that his approval rating is only 36% right now- and that 32% of likely voters in the state have no opinion about him- speaks to the fact that he is likely to have some of the same problems in standing for reelection that Elizabeth Dole did. His level of visibility has not been enough to make a positive impression with two thirds of the electorate, and he doesn't necessarily have a lot of accomplishments from his first term he'll be able to point to in making the case to the voters that he's been a strong advocate for them deserving of a second term. The fact that Cooper's not running doesn't change the fact that only 29% of North Carolina's moderate swing voters approve of his job performance, with more disapproving. Or that even voters within his own party don't have that much enthusiasm for him- a 59% approval rating from Republicans. Democrats showed last year that as long as they can recruit an attractive candidate with a story to tell that will resonate with the voters, initial name recognition isn't all that important. Kay Hagan started as an unknown statewide and trailed Elizabeth Dole 43-27 in the first poll where they were matched up. Burr's vulnerability has a lot more to do with Richard Burr than it did with Roy Cooper, and as long as Democrats can get a reasonably compelling candidate today's news doesn't change the fact that Burr is one of the most endangered incumbents in the country running for reelection. "

BlueNC.com, a progressive statewide blog, is running a poll on who should run, & here is the breakdown they have so far (the poll is about to drop off the front page, so I don't think it will change from this):

Quote :

"Elaine Marshall 3% (1 vote) Cal Cunningham 30% (10 votes) Dan Blue 0% (0 votes) Grier Martin 27% (9 votes) Jim Neal 15% (5 votes) Elizabeth Edwards 3% (1 vote) Rick Glazier 3% (1 vote) Kenneth Lewis 0% (0 votes) Any old yaller dawg 9% (3 votes) Joe Hackney 6% (2 votes) Hugh Shelton 3% (1 vote) "

See any names you do like?

5/18/2009 2:14:10 PM

Quote :

"Elizabeth Edwards 3% (1 vote) "

5/18/2009 2:49:22 PM

Would you rather be:

A powerful politician who gets information and tells your spouse to take your money out of the bank?

or

A powerful politician who gets information and writes a public letter to a public bank's regulator and the FDIC about the bank's viability, causing everyone to take money out of the bank (and the bank failing)?

5/18/2009 9:10:26 PM

I would rather someone new in office that would give us more than those 2 options.

5/18/2009 9:23:14 PM

^^He publicly stated that he told his wife to do it. He might as well have directed that statement at the public (meaning he could have caused a run in)

[Edited on May 18, 2009 at 10:18 PM. Reason : -]

5/18/2009 10:17:34 PM

Quote :

"I would rather someone new in office that would give us more than those 2 options."

good answer!

5/19/2009 6:55:11 AM

Quote :

"^^He publicly stated that he told his wife to do it. He might as well have directed that statement at the public (meaning he could have caused a run in)"

could have, yes, if he had gone public with it when it happened (like Senator Schumer)

he didn't, though, he kept it to himself, thus avoiding a run on the bank (unlike Senator Schumer)

and liberals are getting mad at this guy? were they paying attention when IndyMac was destroyed?

5/19/2009 6:59:08 AM

From the sound of it, EVERYONE is getting mad at this guy. He might not even have his own party's nomination when it comes time for reelection. I think the NC Republican Committee learned their lesson with Dole and will take another path.

5/19/2009 10:06:24 AM

heard something about him proposing a health care bill on npr. not like it will be taken seriously or anything, but it seems like he's at least trying to find something to run on.

5/20/2009 10:39:51 PM

He went on NPR? Now the GOP definitely won't want him back.

5/21/2009 2:01:18 AM

no. it was just a news piece on the wunc news break between segments

5/21/2009 11:14:27 PM

ah, that makes more sense

5/21/2009 11:39:28 PM

And he wants to be my latex salesman head of the NC republican party.

5/23/2009 5:50:50 AM

^that's what I get for having more than one thread open at once

5/23/2009 6:32:22 AM

Hey, if Fetzer ran for GOP nomination I'd vote for him, but only if he really was gay.

Serious proposal: Winston-Salem mayor Allen Joines. W-S is the class of the Triad imho right now, he has little baggage, he knows how to be responsible with money since he's a mayor who must deal with a bipartisan and divided council, and he has a pretty good report with citizens.

5/23/2009 3:31:49 PM

http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-possible-challengers-to-burr-stack.html

-He has an 11 point advantage over Dan Blue (44-33)
-He has a 13 point lead over Richard Moore (47-34)
-He has a 16 point edge on Bob Etheridge (47-31) and Heath Shuler (44-28)
-He has a 19 point margin over Walter Dalton (48-29)

Quote :

"Career Moore earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from Wake Forest University, he was a member of the Delta-Omega chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and a graduate diploma in accounting and finance from the London School of Economics.[2] A former assistant U.S. Attorney, Moore previously served in North Carolina government as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives and as head of the North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety under former Governor Jim Hunt, before being elected state treasurer in 2000. As Secretary of Crime Control & Public Safety, Moore managed the state response to and recovery from several natural disasters, particularly Hurricane Floyd. He is the co-author of a book, Faces from the Flood: Hurricane Floyd Remembered. As Treasurer, Moore championed a national movement to protect shareholder rights against Wall Street corporate abuses. He authored investment and mutual fund protection principles which have been adopted by pension fund managers across the country. His efforts led to his appointment on the executive board of the New York Stock Exchange as the only public sector member, and he was recently named the country's Top Public Official of the Year by Governing Magazine. A Democrat, Moore won re-election against Republican challenger Ed Meyer in the 2004 Council of State elections. Moore officially announced his 2008 campaign for Governor of North Carolina on May 22, 2007.[3] He lost the Democratic primary to Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue on May 6, 2008.[4] Moore endorsed Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for President in February 2008. [5]"

-wiki

Moore at least has some name recognition from that.

5/26/2009 4:51:27 PM

Joines announced last week he's running for re-election, so never mind that.

Apparently they contacted Meeker about running. That's interesting.

6/4/2009 2:21:56 PM

On BlueNC.com I saw this "D.C. pays attention to Cal Cunningham as a serious challenge to Burr"

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/54_140/politics/35500-1.html

Quote :

" But some recent chatter has begun to focus on the potential candidacy of Cal Cunningham (D), a lawyer and former state Senator who served in the Iraq War and is currently part of the Army Reserve Judge Advocate General Corps. “I’m having conversations with friends and fellow Democrats,” Cunningham said on Wednesday. “We’re taking a very close and very serious look at this race.” ::: “I know that for North Carolina and for the Democratic Party here that I need to make a timely decision,” he said. Former Tar Heel state Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Meek said this week that if Cunningham were to enter the race, he would be someone who would have to be taken seriously."

Here's the group for Cal Cunningham for US Senate, 2010!
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=106543775883


I'm not sure what this site is, I just stumbled across it, but it has an interesting visual breakdown:
http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=396390

[Edited on June 4, 2009 at 4:35 PM. Reason : .]

6/4/2009 4:19:34 PM

Personally I think Dan Blue, with his years and years of experience, time as speaker, and general commitment to state politics, would get my support before any of these others.

6/5/2009 11:26:44 AM

I think the contender may soon be this guy:


Cal Cunningham in the City of Hit, Anbar Province, Iraq.

I'm hearing people talk of terms of not if he announces, but when he announces. I think having served as a state senator he might have a shot, I mean that is the same political background Hagan had against Dole.

I sent him a message earlier today to ask him where he stands on a few things, no idea if I'll get a response. While I'm not a fan of Burr (or of Shuler), I'm not ready to throw my support behind him until I know a little more. But what I know so far doesn't seem all that bad.

^has Dan Blue given any public indication of whether or not he is weighing a run?

6/6/2009 10:00:55 PM

Another name that is being floated.

http://www.dunndailyrecord.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=107751


Marshall

Quote :

"6/9/2009 11:28:00 AM Marshall Considers U.S. Senate Run Reece Murphy Reporter North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall said she is interested in running against Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr next year. Mrs. Marshall, 63, is a Campbell Law School graduate, a former Lillington lawyer and still lives in the area. Though she's had her eyes set on the U.S. Senate seat before, finishing third in the 2002 Senate primary behind current University of North Carolina System President Erskine Bowles and current state Sen. Dan Blue, Mrs. Marshall said it is something she'd like to try again. "I haven't closed any doors to that possibility," Mrs. Marshall said. "A lot of folks are considering me and I have always had an interest in pursuing that opportunity. "So the dialogue goes on," she said. "It would indeed be a challenge, but it's one I think I'm up to." In 1996, Mrs. Marshall became the first woman to win a statewide executive office in a race against legendary NASCAR driver Richard Petty for Secretary of State. Before that, Mrs. Marshall served two years as a state Senator for the 15th Senate District. Mrs. Marshall said right now she is focusing too much on her job as Secretary of State to do any concentrated preparation for next year's possible run against Sen. Burr. "Right now, getting the state budget together, protecting my agency, advocating for my agency, that's the No. 1 priority," Mrs. Marshall said. "There'll be opportunities to get out more once the general assembly gets out and goes home," she said. "But right now I'm sticking pretty close to my day job." Mrs. Marshall said she feels confident she can run a viable campaign and said when it does come time to start focusing on running, she hopes to capitalize on the fact that she's so well known in North Carolina and Harnett County politics. "I'm pretty well known in Democratic circles and as the second highest vote-getter in the last state-wide elections, at least somebody knows me," Mrs. Marshall said, dropping in a dose of her well-known humor. "And Harnett County has always been very, very good to me, too," she said. "I'm pretty grateful and appreciative of my Harnett County support in particular.""

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_Marshall

Quote :

"Elaine F. Marshall (born 18 November 1945) is the current North Carolina Secretary of State; she is the first woman to be elected to that office and the first woman elected to statewide executive office in North Carolina."

6/10/2009 6:10:46 AM

Not going to touch this thread again for a while until a contender declares or interesting news about it comes out, but I thought this was worth sharing

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003145736

Quote :

" CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS June 17, 2009 – 10:55 a.m. North Carolina Voters Say It’s Time for Burr to Go The 2010 outlook continues to look bleak for first term Republican Sen. Richard Burr. Only 29 percent of North Carolina voters believe he should get another term, 49 percent prefer someone else while 22 percent are undecided, according to a Public Policy Polling survey conducted June 12-14."

It looks likes he'd need every last undecided voter to go for him just to scrape by... I don't know how big North Carolina will be on democrats during this election, but if there is just one republican they don't like, it's Burr.

6/18/2009 2:27:21 PM

Here is an e-mail I just got from the NC Democratic Party. I think its pretty funny that after he looks bad in everyone else's polling, his campaign manager does polling with questions like who will be better at stopping Obama, Burr or a democrat, and suddenly Burr does decently in the poll with questions worded his way & now is potentially in trouble with federal election & campaign contribution laws.

Quote :

"A story ran in the Roll Call newspaper this week showing that Richard Burr's campaign possibly ran afoul of federal election laws regarding a poll conducted by the campaign's lead consultant Paul Shumaker. Don't we deserve a U.S. Senator who operates in the sunshine of transparency instead of partly-cloudy politics as usual? Shumaker had his private company commission a poll that examined Burr's chances for re-election in 2010. After Roll Call questioned the legality of Shumaker's dealings and he admitted it was in a "gray area," and said he will submit the costs of the poll as an in-kind contribution to the Burr campaign. Shumaker claims he did the poll because a "false picture of the current political environment" had been painted by repeated polls from Public Policy Polling that showed Burr among the least popular Senators up for re-election in 2010. Here is what the experts said in the Roll Call story: "If the evidence was a high-level person paid by a campaign went out and did a poll and had other people pay for the poll, I think that would raise questions about whether it is an in-kind contribution to the campaign," said Larry Noble, a former general counsel for the FEC who now works as at the law firm Skadden, Arps. "If they gave the information to the campaign prior to releasing it, it would definitely increase the likelihood that it would be considered an in-kind contribution." Meredith McGehee, policy director for the Campaign Legal Center said: "It does raise the question of an in-kind contribution in that outside agents seem to be underwriting a service which will benefit a candidate that the campaign manager is working for. Obviously the devil is in the details on this [but] ... you would think the FEC would want to take a close look." Burr's campaign staff wouldn't have to cook up poll numbers if he hadn't completely failed North Carolina families for the past five years. Can you take five minutes to contact Richard Burr or write a letter to your local newspaper expressing your disgust with these shady dealings? North Carolinians deserve a U.S. Senator who knows right from wrong and who isn't looking to walk in legal gray areas. "

7/11/2009 6:10:22 AM

http://www.kennethlewisforsenate.com/main.html

Quote :

"Thanks for your interest in making a difference for North Carolina and this country, and welcome to our website. We are just getting started, so check back often, as we will be adding lots more information about how you can get involved. An official announcement of my candidacy will be made in the coming weeks — please stay tuned."

It looks like a hat is about to be tossed into the ring. I'm hoping the Democratic Part can come up with a diverse array of candidates to offer voters some real debate & options. Right now though it seems like there are too many potential candidates and not enough actual candidates. But having built a website & having declared that he will declare that he is running, I think it is safe to say there is now one contender in the ring with more to come.

Quote :

"Early Life and Education Kenneth Winstead Lewis was born Oct. 8, 1961, in Winston-Salem to Henry S. Lewis Jr. and Savannah Winstead Lewis. His father was a minister and college professor; his mother, a schoolteacher. He graduated from East Forsyth Senior High School in 1979. He was a guard on the school basketball team. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Duke University in 1982. He then went to Harvard Law School, earning a degree in 1986. Professional Career He clerked for a year on the N.C. Supreme Court for Justice Henry Frye in 1986-87. He then went to work for Moore and Van Allen law firm in Charlotte, handling corporate and securities law. In the summer of 1989, he married Holly Ewell, moved to Durham and transferred to the Raleigh office of Moore and Van Allen. He was made a partner in the firm in 1993. In 1994, he started a law firm, Burford & Lewis, in Raleigh. The practice included civil litigation, but Lewis' work focused on business law and public finance. He represented a nonprofit developer of affordable housing, DHIC; an equity fund that invested in affordable housing, Community Affordable Housing Equity Corp.; and the Self-Help Ventures Fund, which makes small business loans in North Carolina. In 2002, the firm moved to Durham. In 2006, Lewis left the firm to join the Research Triangle Park office of Womble Carlyle, one of the state's largest white-shoe law firms. His old firm is now Robert Burford and Associates. At Womble Carlyle, Lewis handles corporate and business law. Political Career When he was younger, Lewis used to tag along with his father, a volunteer on Gov. Jim Hunt's campaign in 1976. He volunteered for Harvey Gantt's re-election campaign as mayor of Charlotte, helping organize a neighborhood in the Third Ward. He worked on Allyson Kay Duncan's campaign for the N.C. Court of Appeals. He served as a fundraiser and organizer for Gantt's 1990 campaign for U.S. Senate. At various times, he has volunteered and worked for Justice Frye, Gantt's 1996 campaign, Erskine Bowles' two campaigns for Senate. He worked as a fundraiser for Barack Obama's 2004 Senate race and his 2008 presidential campaign."

-N&O

7/27/2009 7:06:35 PM

McIntyre not getting in

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/n.c.-democrat-decides-against-burr-challenge-2009-07-28.html

Quote :

"N.C. Democrat decides against Burr challenge By Aaron Blake Posted: 07/28/09 12:59 PM [ET] Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.) has announced that he will not challenge Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) in 2010 and will instead run for reelection, leaving Democrats without a candidate in one of their top-targeted Senate races this cycle. McIntyre said in a statement posted to his campaign website that his role as an Agriculture subcommittee chairman gives him plenty of influence in Congress. “I deeply appreciate the confidence and encouragement from many who have asked me to consider the U.S. Senate race,” he said. “With the leadership positions I currently hold in the U.S. House, there is a greater opportunity to capitalize on these to benefit our constituents and the citizens of North Carolina.” McIntyre was not seen as a particularly potent opponent for Burr, but he had not ruled out the race, and big names are few and far between on the Democratic side in North Carolina. State Attorney General Roy Cooper (D) resisted the urging of the White House to run against Burr, and there are no obvious answers for the Democrats right now, despite Burr’s lackluster approval rating. Among those still considering the race are North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and former state Sen. Cal Cunningham. Attorney Kenneth Lewis is in the race and has raised a modest $110,000. Tar Heel State Democrats defeated another incumbent Republican senator, Elizabeth Dole, in 2008 with little-known state Sen. Kay Hagan, so the party has shown an ability to win without a major candidate."

one of my fav NC dems (haha because he's so moderate)

7/28/2009 1:58:12 PM

^this guy might be.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Wicker

Quote :

"Dennis A. Wicker is a North Carolina lawyer and politician from Sanford who served as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives (1981-1993), and as Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina (1993-2001). As lieutenant governor, he became the first statewide elected official to chair the State Board of Community Colleges, which sets policy for the state’s 58-campus system. Wicker was also a member of the North Carolina State Board of Education and the State Board of Economic Development. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination for Governor of North Carolina in 2000, losing to Mike Easley. The Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center at Central Carolina Community College was named in his honor in 1995 because of his role in securing funding for the center. Wicker is presently the leader of the Government Relations group in the Raleigh office of Schottenstein Zox & Dunn. Wicker is a regular panelist on the television show “NC Spin” discussing various current issues in North Carolina politics."

He is what we could of had instead of Mike Easley.

Some more info on him here:

http://people.forbes.com/profile/dennis-a-wicker/2351

Quote :

"Lead Independent Director Coca Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated Charlotte , NC Sector: CONSUMER GOODS / Beverages - Soft Drinks Director , Air T, Inc. Maiden , NC Sector: SERVICES / Air Delivery & Freight Services Director , First Bancorp Troy , NC Sector: FINANCIAL / Regional - Mid-Atlantic Banks 56 Years Old DENNIS A. WICKER, age 56, has been a partner in the Raleigh, North Carolina office of the law firm of SZD Wicker, LPA since April 2008. From 2001 until 2008, Mr. Wicker was a partner in the Raleigh, North Carolina office of the law firm of Helms Mulliss & Wicker, PLLC. He served as Lt. Governor of the State of North Carolina from 1993 to 2001. Mr. Wicker served as Chairman of the State Board of Community Colleges and as Chairman of North Carolina's Technology Council. Mr. Wicker also serves as a director of First Bancorp, a bank holding company, and Air T, Inc, an air transportation services company. Mr. Wicker has been a director of Coca-Cola Consolidated since May 2001. Mr. Wicker serves as the Lead Independent Director."

Also in the news, Kenneth Lewis has challenged Burr to a debate.

http://bluenc.com/kenneth-lewis-challenges-richard-burr-healthcare-debate

Quote :

"“A review of your public schedule for the week shows luncheons and plant visits, but no opportunity for North Carolinians to engage you in a debate on health care reform,” Lewis said in a letter sent to Burr on Thursday. “While some of your peers have expressed fear of such town hall meetings, this is no time to shrink away from public debate.”"

And it looks like Cal Cunningham and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall may be a part of said debate if it happens.

8/17/2009 11:46:31 AM

Burr is pulling out of the debate. He won't do it unless all the potential & declared candidates are involved, but the potential candidates campaign finance rules or paperwork that has to be filled out by a certain point would apparently change if they appear to the FEC to be actively campaign by doing something like a debate which would prematurely force a decision out of people who haven't decided about running. No debate for now, even though the only declared opponent is willing to debate Burr any time.

[Edited on August 25, 2009 at 2:31 AM. Reason : .]

8/25/2009 2:28:43 AM

lol

8/25/2009 4:24:58 PM