(This was originally supposed to be a diary on the retirement of Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart, but the main article page of Daily Kos beat me to the punch, so I'll modify this draft to be about the North Carolina Senate race this year. While I'm not a resident of the Tarheel State, I would like to draw some attention to this race.)
State Senator Cal Cunningham (D-NC) is the first-tier Democratic challenger to the conservative Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), who once bragged about running the banks and voted against the Franken Amendment that forbade contractors from preventing employees getting legal arbitration. Burr may have the advantage in campaign funds and a head start in timing, but Cunningham is not in some show campaign, he's in it to win!
More below the fold.
Cal Cunningham has already set up a star political team of seasoned veterans to help him in this ambitious campaign.
From CQ Politics:
Campaign Manager Rick Fromberg most recently helped now-Rep. Glenn Nye (D-Va.) defeat Republican Thelma Drake in an upset victory in 2008.
Political Director Conen Morgan is an alumnus of the North Carolina Democratic Party’s coordinated campaign in 2008, as well as former vice-chairman of the Wake County Democratic Party. Deputy Political Director Will Cubbison has previously worked for the Service Employees International Union and was chairman of the Labor Caucus for the state’s Young Democrats.
Communications Director Angela Guyadeen previously served as a regional press secretary for Hillary Rodham Clinton ’s (D-N.Y.) 2008 presidential campaign, and has also served as spokeswoman for Rep. Marion Berry (D-Ark.) and the state Democratic Party in New Mexico.
Finance Director John Gardner had the same role for the North Carolina state party, while Deputy Finance Director Crystal Perkins has raised money for many candidates in the Lone Star State.
Click to learn more!
Senior adviser Morgan Jackson of Nexus Strategies is also on board with Cunningham’s campaign.
Cunningham has also hired pollster John Anzalone, who aided Sen. Kay Hagan ’s (D-N.C.) 2008 victory, Pete Giangreco of The Strategy Group for direct mail, Jen Mueller of Benchmark Strategies for fundraising and Larry Huynh of Trilogy Interactive for new media. Steve Murphy and Mark Putnam have also signed on to the campaign to do media.
Richard Burr is too conservative for North Carolina, a state that has swung blue in recent years with a Democratic majority in both state legislative bodies and a Democratic governor. I'm sure we also remember the famous upset of Libby Dole as well. Although this will not be the Democratic sweep year that 2008 was, Senator Burr is not unbeatable. Although he beats Cunningham in all polls due to the advantage in name recognition, Burr's own approval rating is stagnant and has been holding around 40% according to PPP polling (which is most accurate in NC).
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Why should Tarheel Kossacks support Cunningham? Well, according to his campaign website (go the "Issues" section to read the whole platform), he supports:
--Reducing America's dependence on foreign oil AND reducing American's carbon footprint (veiled support of cap-and-trade?).
--Regulating and making transparent the multi-trillion dollar derivatives market that almost brought us to the brink of economic collapse.
--The creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency to regulate the lending and credit market.
--Regulating big banks and lessen the economic shockwaves created when they go under.
--Early childhood education.
--Fixing the No Child Left Behind Act to make it more flexible and increase federal investment in schools.
--Increasing affordability for college educations.
--Allowing medicare to negotiate for better drug prices.
--Ending insurance discrimination.
--Universal coverage.
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North Carolina has a choice this November. Who will it be? A hypocritical Republican who has Wall Street and Karl Rove to back him up or a Democrat?
Please share your thoughts on this race in the comments.
UPDATE: A copy of a fundraising e-mail from the Cunningham campaign given in the comments section:
Dear Friend,
This morning, I officially announced my candidacy for U.S. Senate, and early voting starts in 63 days.
North Carolina families need someone to fight for them in Washington -- to create jobs, restore innovation, strengthen our schools, improve health care, and put an end to the partisanship that stands in the way of progress.
We are officially in this race.
Join us by contributing to the campaign so we have the resources to win. Please make a contribution of $10 or more today so that we can fight for North Carolina in our nation's capital.
I made this morning's announcement at The Pilot Mill in Raleigh, a business facility that just a few years ago was a forgotten group of dilapidated buildings. Today, against all odds, the Mill has been transformed into a thriving business center.
We need a senator who will work to revitalize North Carolina in very much the same way that dedicated business leaders worked to revitalize the Pilot Mill -- that's what this campaign is about.
I don't need to tell you that this fight is going to be tough, but I can assure you that I am committed to winning.
The primary election is just 83 days away. Your financial support is important now. Please make a contribution of $10 or more today.
Now that the Supreme Court has broken from precedent to grant corporations the "right" to spend unlimited funds to influence the political process, Richard Burr's corporate friends will surely be ramping up their spending in an effort to drown out our voices.
We cannot -- and will not -- let this happen. There is simply too much at stake for our families.
Your help is important to winning the primary election and preparing to take on Richard Burr. Please make a contribution of $10 or more today.
You have already done so much to make this campaign successful -- but there is so much more we can only do with your help.
Thank you again. I am looking forward to the next 83 days -- and the fall campaign
Sincerely,
Cal
Cal Cunningham
Candidate for U.S. Senate