U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler has shot down a Senate bid again.
Speaking at a groundbreaking in Asheville, the Waynesville Democrat said he would not run against U.S. Sen. Richard Burr in 2010, according to the Hendersonville Times-News:
"I am not running for Senate," the second-term Democrat said after a ground-breaking ceremony for a new building at the Bent Creek Experimental Forest Station in Asheville. "I am not running for Senate. I am not running for Senate. I have said that a thousand times, and I don't know why they keep coming up (with the idea). Of course they keep coming up and running polls."
Shuler previously pondered — then rejected — a run for Senate, but some Democrats had floated his name again after Attorney General Roy Cooper declined to run.
Others who have said no to a run on the Democratic side: U.S. Reps. Bob Etheridge and Brad Miller, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, state Sen. Malcolm Graham, state Reps. Tricia Cotham and Grier Martin and Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker.
Comments
Re: Shuler: Not running for Senate
June 8, 2009 - 8:08pm — PaulTerrellTricia Cotham should run so we can see how well her idea about raising taxes flies with both Democrats and then all of NC's voters if she wins the Democratic nomination.
Re: Shuler: Not running for Senate
June 8, 2009 - 3:51pm — CitizenOpinionatedDon't want to say I told you so but I told yall so...
Re: Shuler: Not running for Senate
June 8, 2009 - 12:58pm — cdtewShuler is a gentleman and has more in common with Burr than he does with the liberal NC Democrat apparatchiks. I'm glad to see he's standing by his word.
Re: Shuler: Not running for Senate
June 8, 2009 - 12:52pm — mfenleyWhy would Schuler (or any other sitting member of the US House) want to give up a sure seat for what is going to be a very hard race to win. Regardless of what the PPP polls say, Burr has a solid track record, a strong campaign organization, a solid base, and very low negatives!
The Schuler seat - and maybe even the McIntire seat could easily go Republican and the dems would not only lose the Senate race, but two house seats!