Blue considering another Senate campaign [D-NC]

Rocky Mount Telegram ^ | Jan. 31, 2004 | Ned B. Hunter

[JohnnyZ]

Former N.C. Rep. Dan Blue, a 2002 Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, said he will meet with advisors today to decide if he should make another bid for the Senate this year.

Blue, 54, who would be running against his former 2002 primary opponent Erskine Bowles, said he would make an announcement about his candidacy before the candidate filing period begins Feb. 9. Both would be vying for the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.

"I have no particular date to announce, but I know time is running short," Blue said from his residence in Raleigh.

Blue, an attorney, said he has postponed making a decision about his candidacy due largely to Republican lawsuits over redistricting that could delay the May primary election.

"I was trying to get the feel if they were even going to have a primary, with the legislature's redistricting in question," he said. "I don't know when it will be scheduled, but it is growing more likely that it will move on as normal."

While Bowles has been campaigning since November, Blue said postponing his decision until February will not hurt his chances in the 2004 Democratic primary, should he decide to run.

"While some people have already begun campaigning, the voters have not yet focused on the election," he said. "People are not even focused on the primary yet."

Blue spent 11 terms in the N.C. House, beginning in 1981 and served two terms as House speaker from 1991 to 1994. He finished second out of a field of nine candidates vying for the 2002 Democratic Senate nomination.

Bowles, former White House Chief of Staff under President Clinton, defeated Blue in the Democratic primary. He later lost to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., in the general election.

Bowles, 57, received 43 percent of the vote to Blue's 29 percent in 2002, according to the N.C. State Board of Elections Web site.

[JohnnyZ]

We should root for a Blue candidacy. It will focus attention on Democrats' doubts about the strength of another Bowles run.

[JohnnyZ]

Blue had promised to announce his decision MLK week, and it looks like he's finally ready to make up his mind. Guess we'll have some news in the next day . . . or week . . .or two weeks . . .

[NeoCaveman]

The Blue/Bowles race.

[AuH2ORepublican]

Is Bob Etheridge definitely out?

[JohnnyZ]

Blue is the only other one considering running.

[KFriedConserv]

I live in NC and I think Bowles will have an easy time getting the nod. People seem to give him a lot of credit for running a decent campaign against Dole and closing ground late. She was of course a lock from the day she announced her bid.

[JohnnyZ]

I think Bowles will have an easy time getting the nod.

I agree. Many of Blue's supporters from 2002 are backing Bowles this time. (Also some of Bowles supporters from 2002 are backing BURR.) But a Bowles-Blue primary would still be advantageous to Republicans, so that's what I'm hoping for.