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 In an election year full of surprises, one of the biggest is that North Carolina -- long a sure thing for Republican presidential candidates -- is in play. Although the Tar Heel State hasn't voted for a Democrat since 1976, the economy and shifting demographics have changed popular thinking. And the state's possible swing to Barack Obama is troubling news to Republican Senate candidate Elizabeth Dole, who is fighting to retain her place in Washington.
Dole was elected as North Carolina's junior senator in 2002, taking the seat of Senate legend Jesse Helms. Dole's re-election was initially considered a sure thing this year, and no well-known Democrats were interested in mounting a campaign against her. Eventually, the party enlisted virtually anonymous State Sen. Kay Hagan, who is now enjoying a slight lead over Dole heading into Election Day, according to local polls. The impact of the financial crisis on Charlotte (the self-proclaimed Banktown USA) has created a toxic mix of anger and anxiety amongst the electorate. Initially, there seemed to be some silver linings to the recessionary storm clouds. Bank of America Corp. bought Merrill Lynch & Co. in September, leading to serious gloating. However, the deal now seems to be more to the detriment of the local economy than originally envisioned, according to Corporate Dealmaker's Suzanne Stevens:
More devastating was the subsequent sale of most of Wachovia Corp. to Wells Fargo & Co. BofA and Wachovia are two sources of local pride to North Carolinians, and their post-crisis status has had a visceral impact on the electorate, according to The Washington Post:
Now North Carolinians seem to be channeling their frustrations through the ballot box. Dole, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, has been portrayed as out of touch with her state. The Winston-Salem Journal reported that, "after a review of Senate travel records and other public documents ... she spent just 13 days in North Carolina in all of 2006 on official Senate business." Another report by a nonpartisan group ranked Dole 93rd in effectiveness out of all 100 senators. "In contrast," said the Journal, "Hagan, during her 10 years in the N.C. Senate, has consistently been ranked by a similar survey in the top 10 in effectiveness." It doesn't matter that Dole was one of only 25 senators to vote against the Wall Street rescue plan. Just as the banking industry required a massive bailout to remain afloat, Dole's re-election campaign may require a similar life support effort. - Tom Groppe Tom Groppe is The Deal's executive editor of electronic media. CategoriesComments
From: Erich Riesenberg,
Dole has run a shameful campaign. I don't understand what happened to the Republican party. It seems devoid of hope and promise, running on fear and loathing. I think the relgious zealots began believing their own press. I hope it changes, absolute power in the hands of the Democratic or any single party is dangerous.
Posted on:
November 3, 2008 6:57 PM
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Let's hope for the sake of all North Carolinians that Elizabeth Dole loses tomorrow and that the state will finally have an intelligent and youthful Senator in that seat after two dinosaurs (Helms and Dole) for decades. Go Kay Hagan!