Posted on 09/20/2010 10:08:18 AM PDT by saganite
Rep. Heath Shuler is facing a new challenge, as news emerged in the Washington Examiner that Americans for Job Security, a conservative, “pro-business” non-profit, is putting $712,000 into advertising opposing the two-term Democratic congressman.
The Examiner report, on three Democratic representatives the group is targeting with ad buys, notes that they’re spending “$712,000 against Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., a two-term Democrat in Asheville (NC-11) whom most people do not believe is terribly vulnerable this year. But with that kind of money-tide flowing against him, who knows? Just a few cycles ago, that was enough to fund a winning House campaign. In some districts—including his—it still is.”
Americans for Job Security, based in Alexandria, Va., declares on its website that it “is the only independent, bi-partisan, pro-business issue advocacy organization in America.” However, the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics dubs it a “pro-Republican, pro-business organization… established to directly counter labor’s influence” in a 2004 report.
Polls in the race between Shuler and the Republican nominee, Hendersonville businessman Jeff Miller, have mostly been conducted by partisan groups, and given varying results. The political forecasting site FiveThirtyEight currently predicts that Shuler will win a fairly close race by about 51 to 47 percent. It rates the race as “takeover possible” for the GOP, estimating about a 32 percent chance of the 11th district changing hands.
This group has been airing ads on USA, TNT, etc. against Bob Etheridge in NC-2. Personally, I find Shuler to be a very malleable moderate and would have little problem with him remaining in the Congress. Stay focused on total tools like Etheridge is my advice.
I’m in NC 11th and Shuler is my congressman. I’m totally focused on him. I’ve contributed to Miller’s campaign and will add a little more. If we do truly have a tidal wave election I sincerely hope to see Shuler washed away.
I was in TN last week and met Heath’s step sister. She thinks his goose is cooked this election cycle. The irony is she is Republican and thinks he should stand up for his conservatism and kiss the Dems off.
Roger that on Etheridge. I’m about 400 meters inside Price territory. He’s not quite as vulnerable as Big Bob, but a draft-dodging punk like him makes a good target, nonetheless.
$700k is a lot.
If Shuler were really smart, he would switch parties while he has the chance. Most people (myself included, though I recently moved to SC) in Western NC like him. He is not a nut case like many dems, though his children are named Island and Navy, which is weird any almost anyone’s standards.
In the 11th, that’s a huge amount of money. Miller’s campaign has also raised about $500,000. Last I saw Shuler had well over a million in the bank and he’s likely to get support from Democrat advocacy groups. This year might set a record for campaign spending in the 11th. Shuler already has attack ads running.
Obviously Redskins fans.
I don't know many who want that Cap & Trade phony in the GOP. He's pretty good at telling the little people what they want to hear when he's back in the district, while serving as one of Nancy Pelosi's deputy whips in the House.
And you know, if he'd been smart and voted against Cap & Trade as well, he'd have continued to get away with it for many years to come.
My next recommendation is to encourage my favorite Democrat officeholder to do the same: Cong. Heath Shuler of North Carolina. I admire Shuler for his character and integrity and he is a devout follower of Christ and a conservative. He was critical of Speaker Pelosi, voted against the first stimulus, voted against ENDA and the hate crimes bill and voted against Obamacare (but for the Stupak amendment) and voted for Audit the Fed. Even Shuler’s support for cap-and-trade was primarily a reflection of his faith – being a good steward of our resources. I am disappointed but I can’t be too unhappy at an attempt at a principled stand. Shuler is also a national security conservative.
http://www.varight.com/news/more-on-heath-shuler-sandys-favorite-democrat/
I think Shuler is what a democrat used to be.
LOL. Good catch. Let’s hope they can sack him for a loss. Of his House seat.
Do you support his return to office vs. a conservative Republican?
I could vote for Jeff Miller. He seems very respected in his home town and he has run a business. And I really hate to vote for a dem, no matter who they are. Still, I think Shuler will be re-elected.
I don't know of any 3rd party expenditure that big for a House race, relative to the district, anywhere else in the country.
That advocacy group plans on spending about 1.5 million among three candidates so it looks like Miller will be the biggest recipient. Shuler is a high profile target and I guess they think it’s worth it to try and defeat him. Fingers crossed.
A related post about this advocacy group. Seems the Dem strategy is to attack the group and it’s donations.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2592987/posts
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