NC-Sen: Shuler Considering Race Against Burr

[ccharles000]

http://swingstateproject.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3962

After Kay Hagan utterly spanked Liddy Dole earlier this month, and North Carolina turned blue at the Presidential level for the first time since 1976, it's no surprise that Democrats are painting a fat target on the back of North Carolina's remaining GOP Senator -- Richard Burr. One possible candidate who's received a lot of buzz is state Attorney General Roy Cooper, but another potential candidate is 11th District Rep. Heath Shuler, who will be starting his second term in the House next year. Shuler is very much keeping the door open to a statewide bid:

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler is not yet sworn into his second term, but some Democrats hope he sets his sights two years from now on a run for the Senate.
That election would pit Democratic nominee Shuler, a star quarterback at Swain County High School and the University of Tennessee, against U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, who played defensive back at Wake Forest.

Shuler said he has not ruled out a run for Senate, but wants to focus now on Congress.

"First and foremost, I am going back to Washington and work on the economy," Shuler said. "At this point in time we need to focus on the economy."

As a popular figure in his western, Appalachian district, Shuler would offer a lot of strengths as a candidate. As for holding his open House seat, our friends at Public Policy Polling are optimistic:


The immediate concern is whether a Shuler run would cost the Democrats a Congressional seat that they reclaimed for the first time in 16 years just one election ago, but I think there is a strong bench in that district.
John Snow represents a very Republican eight county state Senate district contained completely within the 11th District and won every single one of the counties in his reelection bid this year even as Barack Obama won just one of them.

Joe Sam Queen is the Senator for a similarly Republican district in the Mountains. He won four out of six counties this year in his reelection bid: the two counties he lost are in the 10th District while the ones he won are all within the 11th.

If Shuler ran the Democrats' recruitment should start with those guys since it's imperative the Democrats nominate someone who's shown an ability to win outside Buncombe County.

[Kalyke]

1. I'd rather he come back to UT and coach our football team.

We suck this year.

[msongs]

2. is shuler a real democrat or a DINO? nt

[ccharles000]

3. ....

Shuler is a somewhat conservative Democrat. He opposes abortion<6> and gun control, and also takes a hard line on illegal immigration.<7> These stances are not surprising given the nature of his district, which has a strong tinge of social conservatism (especially in Asheville's suburbs). However, on economic and environmental matters, Shuler tends to vote more with his party. He is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of moderate-to-conservative House Democrats.


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

[FLAprogressive]

4. SHULER IS A VIRULENT HOMOPHOBE. NC COULD DO BETTER.

[ccharles000]

7. I agree.

But if he is the one to run against Burr I will vote for him.

[Oak2004]

5. I think he needs to run,

lose in the primaries to a progressive who knows how to win in rural and more conservative areas, and find himself back home sending out resumes.

Just my opinion :evilgrin:

[Unsane]

6. Hope he runs. We need more Senate seats.

[libnnc]

8. He's as dumb as a box of rocks

Hate to say it, but I think he could beat Burr.

[Hippo_Tron]

9. Never thought I'd be able to say this, but Shuler is too conservative for North Carolina

[paparush]

10. Shuler often thanks his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as part of his speeches.

The ONLY reason I voted for Shuler ( I was going to no-vote him) this time was because he voted NO, twice, to the Economic Terror Bailout.