Recently in North Carolina there has been an (at times) frantic search for a top notch challenger to Elizabeth Dole. Most of this discussion has focused upon who can beat her, because that is the (obviously) the point.
I know that Dole can be beaten. There have been 3 polls taken in this race. Dole's best showing was in a matchup with Congressman Bob Etheridge, where she got 45%. (Against Brad she is up 44 to 33)
But, the first step in beating Elizabeth Dole is convincing fellow Democrats that you are the right person. Without convincing Democrats, no matter who wins the nomination will not beat Dole, because he (or she) will not have volunteers, and they wont have donors, and they wont get supporters to the polls, and etc.
So, will Brad be able to convince Democratic activists to work for him?
What are people looking for in a candidate?
Todd says:
We need someone with good name recognition, ability to raise a TON of money, no skeletons rattling around in the closet, and who will not run away from the 'Democrat' label, like Harold Ford did.
Momaizo gives us this piece of hope for a replacement for Dole.
Won't it be nice to have a Senator that actually represents North Carolinians?
Brad himself gave us two big reasons for someone to oppose Dole:
"I think a Democrat can win that race. I think the advantage I'd have -- and any Democrat would have -- is I will never have to be briefed on which state I represent in the Senate."
"I think she will be judged on her record as a politician in 2008 and not judged as a celebrity, as she was in 2002," he said. "And she has simply been a down-the-line partisan Republican on every issue from Iraq to privatizing Social Security to opposing the minimum wage increase and supporting CAFTA [the Central America Free Trade Agreement]."
From well known BlueNC Frontpager Robert P (aka chuckles1) comes the following:
What we need is someone with immense NC cred. Someone who was born here and made their career here. Who chose NC as their adult home.
Can Brad fit that bill?
From LCloud:
I want Brad Miller to run for Senate because he shows progressive leadership, integrity, and common sense for North Carolina. We need that, and we need it now.
Robert adds this:
The reason I think he would be good is that Vernon threw every ugly accusation he could at him, and none of it stuck.
:::
Vernon ran as negative a campaign as you could possibly have and voters didn't buy it.
And later he had this to say:
I think Rep. Miller would fit that bill. He went away to graduate and law school, then chose to come back home as an adult.
Born in 1953, Rep. Miller was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. ...
Miller is a product of North Carolina's public schools, attending Terry Sanford Senior High in Fayetteville and later the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for his undergraduate studies. He also holds a masters degree from the London School of Economics and a law degree from Columbia University.
Brad and Esther Hall have been married since 1981 and live in Raleigh.
His service is well-known in North Carolina and he has a state-wide network of contacts and supporters through his time in the legislature.
North Carolina House, 1992-94
North Carolina Senate, 1996-2002
U.S. House, 2002-Present
funluvn1 has this to say:
I'm all about Brad Miller. Good progressive credentials, extremely well spoken and able to run a smart campaign. I believe the people of North Carolina are ready to make the move and Brad would be a great peoples candidate.
Momaizo later gave this addition about Brad:
I laughed a lot that day and smiled quite often in the days that followed whenever thinking about it. He is approachable and does listen. Best of all, imho, HE'S A BLOGGER! He understands the tubes, he's part of this community. We come here to share and learn and discuss, mini town-hall meetings every day. He knows as an elected representative of the people, that he is welcomed here and visits often. I respect him and feel that respect in return.
The day that she is referring to is when Brad was the guest speaker for the first ever BlueNC Women Blogger's Conference.
Leslie H answered both of these questions with the following:
I'd want someone to run ... decent, engaged, curious, capable, highly intelligent, funny, sensbile enough to have broad appeal, progressive enough to trust voters with the truth ... Representative Miller is the most down to earth, approachable, non-aloof public office holder I've ever had the pleasure to shake hands with or sit at the table with. That tells me that Brad Miller gets it; he works for the people. He's not afraid to sit down without script, outline or rules and just listen to and talk to people. He is already committed to working for all the people of this state, not just the powerful DC elite or big money corporations. All NC citizens deserve that kind of representation in Washington. We sure aren't getting that from our current non-resident Senator.
That's why I'd love the chance to vote for Brad Miller for Senate in 2008.
For me, this all adds up to a belief that Brad Miller would beat Elizabeth Dole, and that he would be an amazing Senator!
But, what do you want in a challenger to Dole, and why do you think Brad would make a good challenger?