Posted on 07/27/2004 3:17:00 PM PDT by Libloather
Easley, Bowles sit out Democrats' gathering
By J. ANDREW CURLISS, Staff Writer
Published: Jul 27, 2004
Modified: Jul 27, 2004 3:46 PM
Missing from this week's giant gathering of Democrats in Boston are two of North Carolina's most high-profile Democrats: Gov. Mike Easley and Erskine Bowles, who is running to replace Sen. John Edwards.
Easley and Bowles are staying home while their party's leaders and foot soldiers rally around presumptive nominee John Kerry and his running mate, Edwards.
Spokesmen for Easley and Bowles said the two are not running away from Kerry but will be busy in North Carolina and see no reason to go to Boston.
Before the 1990s, skipping the party's quadrennial convention would raise eyebrows. But now, the purpose of the gatherings is mostly about putting on a good show for TV audiences. Both then-Gov. Jim Hunt and then-Sen. Jesse Helms skipped their party gatherings in 1996.
Bowles, White House chief of staff under former President Clinton, is campaigning around the state this week, as is his Republican opponent, Rep. Richard Burr of Winston-Salem.
"He's going to be meeting with people who can actually vote for him," Bowles campaign spokesman Carlos Monje said.
Easley does not have any campaign events scheduled this week, but he shunned a trip to Boston to take care of work, according to his campaign.
Easley campaign manager Jay Reiff said the governor had left his schedule open to allow for a trip, but decided to review bills passed at the end of the General Assembly's session this month and to make jobs and education announcements this week.
"He has 70-some bills he needs to go through and determine which ones to sign and which to veto," Reiff said. "Many bills are passed right at the end, and he has to go through them with a fine-tooth comb." Easley has never been to the party's national convention, he said.
But Easley's son, it turns out, is attending the convention, working the floor of the FleetCenter, according to The Associated Press.
Other governors will be featured prominently at the convention this week, among them: New Mexico's Bill Richardson, Iowa's Tom Vilsack and Michigan's Jennifer Granholm. All three don't face re-election until 2006.
Erskine Bowles was on Here on Sunday spewing his liberal crap at a breakfast...YUK
Same with Kernin here in Indiana, Mitch Daniels has ole Joe worried, he skipped the convention this year too.
They're ducking like Mary Landrieu did. And here's the proof of the efficacy of the Rats Southern Strategy.
Bullsh*t. I guarantee you that Bowles' campaign has probably already told Ketchup Boy and the Breck Girl to stay away. Just like in 2002, the RATS running in the South told Daschle, the Clintons, Algore, and the rest of the real RAT party not to come anywhere near them or their state.
So, they are earnestly rearranging their sock drawers instead? Fat chance!
I'd bet they just don't want to get tarred and feathered by being identified with all the wackos at the Boston Democrat Clown-Fest Convention. They'd lose their elections in NC for sure if they were seen as part of that scurrilous, effete, blue-blooded and cold-blooded mob.
Ping
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.