Posted on 01/15/2010 12:43:59 PM PST by MitchellC
Reconsiders bid for GOP nomination at family's urging
Jeff Miller is back in the race for Congress.
Although he said in October that he would not seek the Republican nomination, the Honor Air founder and Hendersonville businessman confirmed Thursday that he plans to run, but said it was too early in the process to make a bigger announcement.
Republicans are looking for viable candidates to run against Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, and Miller was heavily recruited last fall. He met with local political officials and representatives from the National Republican Congressional Committee.
In the end, he declined to run, citing the desire to spend more time with his wife and 17-year-old son.
"It demanded me to do more than I am willing to do," Miller said in early October. "I like it here."
Those same family members prompted his recent change of heart.
"My wife, son, very close friends and veterans asked me to reconsider," Miller said. "My family and I circled up, and we are close to making an announcement."
Honor Air founder
Miller said he was exhausted last fall. He organizes Honor Air flights, which take World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the World War II Memorial. Last year was the largest Honor Air season, he said, and he was not prepared to think seriously about a run for Congress.
Miller said he had numerous people contact him last fall to voice their support. He believes he's the right candidate, saying he's not a professional politician, and he has been a successful businessman.
Miller wants to bring practical sense to Congress and has been disappointed by several recent decisions made by Shuler.
Miller said he is more passionate about running for Congress than in the fall.
"There is more fire now," he said.
The Republican field already is crowded. Former Hendersonville Mayor Greg Newman, Clay County businessman Kenny West, Cherokee County ophthalmologist Dr. Dan Eichenbaum and Asheville attorney Ed Krause all have announced that they are seeking the Republican nomination.
This story leads me to believe that this is a candidate with a better shot of taking out Heath Shuler.
With the field that crowded, the Republican nomination must be a valuable thing to have there. Shuler stunk in the NFL and he stinks in Congress. Goodbye!!
What’s wrong with Dr. Dan Eichenbaum? I like his responses to questions about congress, etc. I think it’s www.drdan4congress.
I don’t know enough about Eichenbaum, Miller, or any of the other candidates in terms of policy positions to judge which is the best.
But I will say two things about Eichenbaum:
1.) He seems to be the only candidate (pre-Miller) with any half-way notable kind of ground game/support.
2.) He participated in a forum a month or so back that included all of the other then-candidates except for Newman, and I thought every single one of those candidates were weak in terms of presentation. Could have been a bad night, or maybe it’s just me, etc., of course.
I have been curious to see if Shuler might switch ala the guy in AL recently. But now he has serious GOP opposition it seems.
Here’s Dr. Dan’s website; http://drdan4congress.com
I like his stand on all issues. I don’t know anything about Miller but why has the Republican Party not said anything about Dr. Dan and suddently comes up with this Miller. Dr. Dan sez, “A RINO can’t beat a BLUE DOG”
Haven’t we learned that yet?
I suspect that the NRCC’s eagerness to push Miller has to do with his reputation from the Honor Air program.
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