NC-Sen: Shuler Considering Race Against Burr

[jefferson_dem]

Sure, Shuler's a blue dog...but he could give Burr a run for his money in 2010.

NC-Sen: Shuler Considering Race Against Burr
from Swing State Project by James L.

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.

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

[Thrill]

1. There will be no short of NC Dems ready to take down the weak Burr

Governor Easley, AG Cooper, and Treasuer Richard Moore. And he might get a Primary Challenge from Charlotte Mayor Pat McCory

[marmar]

2. It would be great to see NC with two Democratic senators....but Shuler? Ugh.

n/t

[Captain Hilts]

3. Yeah, but he did beat the Cowboys - in Dallas. nt

[Recursion]

4. Joe Gibbs for Senate, maybe? NT

[Captain Hilts]

6. No waaaaay! He's further right than Shuler. nt

[Recursion]

8. I honestly know nothing about his politics

I just know he does good things for the Skins.

[Captain Hilts]

9. He's a good man, actually. But an evangelical Christian. He and Tom Landry sat right next to each..

other at an 80s hearing on prayer in schools - at a very high point in Redskins-Cowboys hate.

[Recursion]

10. An Evangelical Christian like Jimmy Carter? Or Jim Wallis?

Being an evangelical is no bar to being a liberal. But if he was pushing prayer in schools he probably is on the more conservative side, alas.

[Tarheel_Dem]

5. Isn't he the one who refused to endorse Sen. Obama, even after he'd

won the primaries? I get them mixed up, but I thought I had heard/read somewhere that he wouldn't commit? Apparently, his constituency wasn't too keen on Obama.

[ej510]

11. He said he would endorse the winner of his district.

[ccharles000]

7. I hope roy cooper runs

[MadBadger]

12. Heath Shuler is easily the most hatest man in Washington DC

[Pirate Smile]

13. details?

[MadBadger]

14. LOL, he was a major bust for the Washington Redskins as a draftpick at QB.

He was like a first round pick and SUCKED

[Pirate Smile]

18. Woosh - went right over my head - I thought you meant on the political field, not football.

:dunce:

[Seen the light]

15. HELLLLLLL NO, there are much better candidates than NC than him

Grier Martin? Roy Cooper? Even Mike Easley?

[brooklynite]

16. A cautionary tale...

Remember that Katherine Harris decided to run for Senate after only four years in a safe House seat and got whomped. I'm not familiar with local NC politics, but I'd be cautious about abruptly running for higher office.

[SwampG8r]

17. the burr in a wheelchair on tvland?

hes pretty fast in that thing
good luck to him