John Edwards, Erskine Bowles Are Mum [After NC Senate Meeting]

Charlotte News and Observer ^ | Thursday July 10, 2003 | John Wagner and Rob Christenson

[ewing]

US Senator [and 2004 Democratic Presidential Candidate] John Edwards met behind closed doors Wednesday with Erskine Bowles, a Democrat very interested in pursing his Senate seat if Edwards continues running for President of the United States.

Both emerged from their meeting in Raleigh tight lipped about their political futures.

'What they discussed is private between them,' said Jennifer Palmieri, Edwards Presidential Campaign Press Secretary.

Neither Edwards or Bowles, who ran unsuccessfully for the Senate last year, would comment directly.

While Edwards could legally appear on the ballot for both offices in 2004, most political observers believe that scenario is unlikely.

He [Sen. Edwards] is under increasing pressure from Democrats in North Carolina to make a choice so that the Party's Senate nominee will have enouogh time to raise money and mount a credible campaign.

[twigs]

Maybe the Clintons are pushing him and he has agreed in exchange to put Hillary on as VP, a stupid move because his, umm, health, would not last long. This guy needs to be soundly defeated. He's too close to the Clintons.

[JohnnyZ]

If NC has been overrun by northern immigrants from NJ, NY, PA, MD, OH, etc,

Hey! That's me you're talking about.

what makes you think that NC won't go Democrat for senator again, regardless of the candidate?

The GOP HAS won 75% of senate races since Jesse Helms started out.

Is there evidence that conservatism is growing or shrinking in NC?

Hard to say, conservatism is probably shrinking a little, but Republicanism is still growing. Still LOTS of conservative Dems.

Bowles did fairly well in 2002

His loss was the most lopsided senate contest in NC since -- well, I don't know, a long time. He got more votes than Edwards in #s but only 45%. He even lost his native Mecklenburg County (Charlotte & friends). That being said, he ran fairly well and was cursed with a late primary. He'll have less establishment/money support this year, though, as a couple key supporters have switched over to Burr.

Richard Burr may even be unopposed in the primary; he's a consensus candidate, and a wicked good one. A conservative who smiles pretty for the soccer moms.

[ewing]

Ofc ourse the Dims are grasping for straws at VP..at least Gen. Clark would be better than Hillary!

[Gritty]

I'm not sure what the deal here is with Edwards, but I don't like it.

I'd bet he's angling to be Attorney General. Oh, wait a minute. Schmuckie Schumer already has that postition locked up!

[Helms]

Inexplicable, a gust of wind and other tragic things:

Edwards has refused to discuss his 16-year-old son, Wade, who was killed in a car accident in 1996. "It's just something that's just personal to him," says Edwards's campaign spokeswoman, Jennifer Palmieri. "He will never discuss it in a political context."..http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A7292-2003Jun17&notFound=true

WADR (With all due respect)

[warchild9]

As a native Carolinian, I'd say "welcome", but you're not. That aside, the least irksome Yankees we have invading our fair country are a strange, numerous mob of conservative Massachusetts-Americans, who're running from the socialist heaven their countrymen have established up there. Regardless, Deo Vindice, and we'll take our state back after the republic falls.

[warchild9]

Oh, and Edwards may be vile, but he's no worse than the rest of those scallawags the Federal system has hoisted on us since the First War ended. May he go away soon, and Jessie Helms be rejuvenated.

[bert]

He wears the Scarlet L

Left wing, lawyer, loser

Leaver?

[ewing]

That's a great pic! L for big losah..

[JohnnyZ]

As a native Carolinian, I'd say "welcome", but you're not.

Psycho. :)

[warchild9]

Yankee. Need I say more?

[Rebelbase]

" Is there evidence that conservatism is growing or shrinking in NC?"

My experience in a 14 county territory within the middle of the state has been that outside of the metropolitan areas, Edwards is mocked by the conservative democrats that comprise a large population.

The die hard liberals that make up the city cores, academic areas and lower income neighborhoods are the ones who are yellow dog democrats.

[Rebelbase]

Its still ok to call them carpetbaggers.

[TC Rider]

Don't forget that Edwards has bought a new 3+million house in Georgetown, that is now undergoing extensive (expensive) renovations. He's planning on living in DC, come hell or high water.

[warchild9]

I believe "scalawag" refers specifically to a Southerner who has sold out to Northern imperial interests. A "carpetbagger" is one of those interests, if I'm not incorrect.

[JohnnyZ]

Its still ok to call them carpetbaggers.

Yes! Yes! We are your masters you miserable hicks!

ROFLMAO!

[warchild9]

Actually, you Yankees are mere irritants. And your fascetious conescension points out what I hate the most about John Edwards--the condescension just oozes out of that man. Since you're not from around here, I'll just point out that's the natural state of a Duke Law graduate.

[warchild9]

Oh, and foreigners like JohnnyZ aren't "carpetbaggers", they are colonists who couldn't make it in their own country, like the millions of Mexican peasants who're overrunning us.

[JohnnyZ]

I'll just point out that's the natural state of a Duke Law graduate.

What . . . condensation? LOL!

BTW, you don't even know how to spell it; it's D-O-O-K.

I highly doubt you're a native Carolinian. Maybe South Carolina. Maybe a Carolingian, if you know what that is (but, as John Kerry would say, "you probably don't even speak French").

[gonewt]

I've got news for you -- with or without "Yankees," NC is an embarrassment.

We've got an 8% income tax, and a bunch of good ol' boy Democrats in Raleigh who love to spend, spend, spend. The entire state legislature is completely controlled by them.

What we need is MORE transplants coming here, and hopefully we can get rid of the "lifers" in Raleigh who have turned NC into the highest taxed state in the southeast.