A recent Huffington Post article nicely lays out a Democratic battle that will garner national attention: a potential primary between Congressmen David Price and Brad Miller.
Thank Republicans for the political drama -- redistricting bunked the two well-known Democrats in the same district. And as the Huffington Post piece highlights, it could be a bruising battle:
"Neither Miller nor Price are eager to criticize each other before the 2012 map is finalized. But important differences do exist in their voting records. Miller's seven years of work on banking reform and consumer protection have endeared him to progressive activists. Price, meanwhile, was a founding member of the Democratic Leadership Council, the most prominent centrist faction of the Democratic Party, and he previously served as a member of the New Democrat coalition, a group closely attuned to the interests of business executives and prominent corporate shareholders.
Price made a hard political left-turn after the Democratic wave election of 2006, leaving the New Democrats behind and voting as a robust progressive ever since. Meanwhile, Miller's devotion to financial reform, and mortgage issues in particular, have had a tremendous legislative impact."
Comments
Price and Miller
December 29, 2011 - 10:06am — ProudlyUnaffiliatedBut isn't David a bit long in the tooth? I think progrssives can do better than either. NC-4 now heavily favors the Democrats, why not get who you really want, maybe a young, aggresive turk to push hard.
Price & Miller, spendthrift socialists
December 27, 2011 - 1:51am — penniless_taxpayerI would hate to see either one of these hoodlums returned to Washington. They have done little more than bail out banks, socialize the healthcare system, strangulate the economy, and amass three $1.5 TRILLION deficits in a row. For heaven sake North Carolina, get rid of these guys while the country is still solvent.
Price votes to deregulate banks; Miller fights Wall Street
December 26, 2011 - 2:56pm — BradleysCreekBerkeleyTarheel, forgive me, but you want to call the difference between them a "difference in style?"
I can't believe the presumption of Price supporters that the new district is "his." Only 33% of his current constituents are in the new district. Another 31% are Miller's. I wouldn't say either is entitled to it. The public deserves a lively debate and _ALL_ of the facts.
What locals don't realize is that Price, while a nice person and definitely a better alternative to any Republican, isn't a nationally recognized leader on any of the most urgent issues we face today, even after having been in Congress 24 years.
The reason several national organizations are lining up to support Miller is because, although it's barely reported on in the N&O, he's a leading proponent on the national stage for Wall Street reform. He regularly publishes editorials in, co-authors articles in, and/or is interviewed by the national press. He's interviewed pretty regularly by stations with national coverage, like NPR, CNN, and MSNBC. He is out there calling out the TBTF banking industry and the stooges who support them for what they are, day after day after day, and risking a lot to do it.
I hate that Price might have to retire after losing in a primary to Miller, but fighting the insane, sociopathic control that the top .01% has over our entire political process is the most pressing issue our country faces. We won't be able to change anything if we don't stop the policies that allow the richest to keep taking from the poor and middle classes.
I don't know about you, but I'd much rather have Miller fighting for us than a guy who voted to deregulate the banks and to make it more difficult for middle-class families to declare bankruptcy.
HuffPo writer lacks knowledge
December 26, 2011 - 1:25pm — berkeleytarheelThe re-posting N&O reporter is wrong to say this HuffPo story lays it out "nicely." That article is ill-informed and misses the mark. Price and Miller have long been among the most progressive NC delegation members, with Price perhaps being more progressive on the whole. The difference between the two is more on style. That and experience and effectiveness, which tips in favor of Price. The HuffPo story should really challenge progressives to rally behind Miller for him to keep his seat in the 13th, despite the GOP's galling gerrymandering. There's no good reason for him to challenge Price, who is a tremendous asset to the state and the Triangle region. Not to mention the fact that I can't imagine Miller actually believing he could beat Price.