Democrat Bob Etheridge is considering running for the congressional seat he lost last year to Republican Renee Ellmers.
“I've been getting a lot of phone calls, I can promise you that,” Etheridge said this afternoon. “ I've been evaluating it.”
“I do enjoy it," he said. "I think I made a difference. I'm like any American right now – frustrated at what is going on with the Tea Party folks up there. I think they have pushed our country to the brink three times this year, and lost our country its AAA bond rating as a result of that.”
Etheridge, represented the second district for seven terms, before losing to Ellmers last fall, in part because an episode in which he grabbed a young man posing as a student – which the National Republican Congressional Committee after the election acknowledged was an operative – who sought to question and videotape him on a Washington street.
Since then, Etheridge, 70, has worked in Raleigh, overseeing the distribution of the stimulus money. In recent months he has headed state recovery efforts for Hurricane Irene.
Under the redistricting plan adopted by the GOP-led legislature, the 2nd district has been made more Republican. But Etheridge said it is still winnable for a Democrat, particularly in a presidential year.
Etheridge, who lives in Lillington, has actually been moved into the 4th congressional district under the redistricting plan. The plan puts all three Democrats who had represented the Triangle in recent years, Etheridge, David Price, and Brad Miller in the 4th. But congressmen are not required to live in their district run.
Etheridge said he asked state Rep. David Lewis, chairman of the House redistricting committee and a fellow Harnett County resident, about being moved out the district he had long represented.
“He said he doesn't know where I live,” Etheridge said. “It makes me wonder about his level of honesty or his intelligence.”
Etheridge said he will sit down with supporters after the beginning of the year to discuss his options.
Comments
Power corrupts
December 21, 2011 - 9:43am — paidanywayIt's not at all about representation for Bob. It's all about the power and perks. He's already throwing darts. How about your honesty, intelligence (not), and integrity Bob? Take another drink. You've disgusted those you claimed to have served.
Who are you?
December 21, 2011 - 6:58am — bestsarahBobby: David, how about move me back into my old district?
David: Who are you? Who are you?
Bobby: Don't go stealing my lines! Or more importantly, moving the lines!
But what the poor citizens
December 21, 2011 - 6:33am — lockstepBut what will the poor citizens do for a stimulus czar? That is the real question. And do you think we have seen our last hurricane? I think not. Bobby Ray is too vital as the czar of stimulus & hurricanes. We need to keep him here for the good of mankind.
BOB it's OVER
December 20, 2011 - 7:40pm — cobraBob the downgrade of the country credit rating rest with you and the rest of the folk's who gave us health care , and the housing crash and of course all the other money given away the last two years you were in congress. Your memory may be bad , but the rest of do remember your record and your love of the labor unions which I am sure are the folks asking you to run .
Typical Bobby
December 20, 2011 - 7:23pm — MooseletSo you don';t have to live in a district to represent the people who actually live there. That is tailor made for Etheridge who made a cottage industry of representing himself and to (hades) with the people who paid his salary.