Burr files to run, changes his mind about NAFTA

journalnow.com ^ | 05/02/04 | David Rice

[KQQL]

Trade agreement may have been good for U.S. but hasn't helped N.C., he says

U.S. Rep. Richard Burr filed yesterday to run for a new office, the U.S. Senate, saying that he has changed his mind about NAFTA, a trade agreement he once supported and has criticized Democrat Erskine Bowles for supporting.

"I actually wasn't in Congress when we passed NAFTA, but I said in 1994 had I been there I would have voted for it," said Burr, R-5th, who filed to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. John Edwards. Like Bowles, who lobbied for the North American Free Trade Agreement as a member of the Clinton administration, "I'm big enough to say that the picture I had of NAFTA in 1994 ... didn't turn out the way I pictured it," Burr said, referring to his position as a "reversal."

"NAFTA may have been good overall for the United States.... But if you gauge it based upon employment in North Carolina, it has not been a net advantage," he said.

Still, Burr has hammered Bowles for lobbying for NAFTA and for most-favored-nation trading status for China.

"Now, with NAFTA at the forefront of costing many North Carolinians their jobs, Mr. Bowles has changed his position to one of opposing this agreement," Burr said in one recent fund-raising letter.

"But even more troubling is his handling of communist China.... I voted eight separate times to oppose most-favored-nation status (for China) and I remain opposed to it today, and will continue to do so until it is fair and equitable for America and our workers. Unfortunately, I don't think we can say the same about Mr. Bowles," Burr wrote.

In response to Burr's remarks, Bowles' campaign said that Burr is being hypocritical.

"How can Richard Burr with a straight face attack Erskine on trade, when Burr supported NAFTA and voted for trade deal after trade deal after trade deal?" asked Carlos Monje, a spokesman for the Bowles campaign.

Burr continued to criticize Bowles yesterday for his past support of trade with China. He said that as recently as 2000, Bowles lobbied Rep. Eva Clayton, D-1st, to support most-favored-nation status for China.

"With eight votes against a China agreement, I think it's hard for that not to be an issue in this campaign," Burr said.

"I'm going to run on my record, and I would expect his record to be fair game," he said. "I think North Carolinians expect consistency from their elected representatives."

Bowles' campaign said that Bowles called Clayton to get Chinese restrictions on imports of U.S. tobacco lifted.

[KQQL]

@

[Kuksool]

Burr vs. Bowles Update

I have a feeling that the race will be decided in Wake County.

[KQQL]

Bowles 47% - Burr 38%
Bennett, Petts and Blumenthal(D) 4%
MoE+/-4% (Likely Voters) 03/30-04/01/04

Bowles 45% - Burr 40% - Undecided 15%
Research 2000
MoE+/-4% (Likely Voters) 01/05-08/04

[KQQL]

Democratic candidate Erskine Bowles is recognized by 86.8 percent of registered voters in the race for the U.S. Senate, and Republican Rep. Richard Burr is recognized by 45.5 percent, according to a poll released yesterday.

The Elon University Poll
http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031775203429&path=!localnews!elections&s=1037645509113

[Kuksool]

Is Bennett, Petts and Blumenthal a RAT polling firm? Interesting that Bowles cannot crack 50% when he currently has superior name ID.

[KQQL]

Bennett, Petts and Blumenthal(D)/ (D)= Dem

[NeoCaveman]

Bowles will do about as well as he did last time.........and that is about it.

[KQQL]

Smart move by Burr on trade issues.

Now the fight will be on taxes, abortion, guns , gay marriage.

[JohnnyZ]

Is Bennett, Petts and Blumenthal a RAT polling firm?

Yeah, that was a DSCC poll. Kinda funny the best poll they could come up with only had Erskine at 47%. Burr's going to smoke him when he gets his name ID up.

[KQQL]

I will do better than he did the last time.

I race will be won by 4-5% in 2004 by either bowles or burr.

There is no way either Burr or Bowles wins by 9% like Dole did in 2000

[KQQL]

OPS .

He will not do better than he did the last time.

This race will be won by 4-5% in 2004 by either bowles or burr.

There is no way either Burr or Bowles wins by 9% like Dole did in 2000

[NeoCaveman]

I thought she won that big because the African Americans didn't like Bowels. I doubt they like him better now.

[Kuksool]

Hopefully, the same NC Freepers who bitched and moaned about Liddy Dole being a RINO 2 years ago will support Burr, who has a solid conservative voting record.

[Theodore R.]

Then the problem is Burr's lack of name ID. Many voters will support whatever name they recognize, regardless of that candidate's issue positions. I suppose that's why well-funded candidates, all things being otherwise equal, are far more likely to win than lose. People just won't study the individual candidates.

[Theodore R.]

I wonder if there is a better-known candidate with name ID who could get nominated if Burr continues to trail so badly in the polls. It looks like Burr cannot win.

[JohnnyZ]

Yo Theodore, that was a totally idiotic comment. Think about the race for a minute and reevaluate.

[ncweaver]

Hopefully, the same NC Freepers who bitched and moaned about Liddy Dole being a RINO 2 years ago will support Burr, who has a solid conservative voting record.

I have a Burr sticker on my car, however, I was VERY disappointed when he voted FOR the CFR bill!!

I'm afraid he's no Walter Jones(R)NC = a true "solid" conservative.

[Theodore R.]

Burr is an excellent candidate, it would appear, but in 2004, it's all about electability, and he appears to be unelectable at this point, with Bowles leading in all the polls.

[JohnnyZ]

he appears to be unelectable at this point, with Bowles leading in all the polls.

Sure, if he doesn't advertise between now and the election, he won't win. HELLO! EARTH TO TR! HE'S GOING TO ADVERTISE! HE HAS $5.7 MILLION IN THE BANK! HE'S ONLY FIVE POINTS BEHIND WHEN KNOWN BY FEWER THAN HALF OF REGISTERED VOTERS!

Why do you think Burr will remain at 45% name recognition?