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White House thwarts Republican Jim Snyder's plans to run for US Senate (Prefer Richard Burr)
News & Observer ^ | December 18, 2002 | ROB CHRISTENSEN,

Posted on 12/18/2002 7:18:37 AM PST by jern

Snyder remains untapped

By ROB CHRISTENSEN, Staff Writer

For Republican Jim Snyder, the White House's decision to back U.S. Rep. Richard Burr for the U.S. Senate in 2004 looks like a case of deja vu. When he sought the Republican nomination for the Senate in September, Snyder, a Lexington lawyer, found himself running against not only Elizabeth Dole but the full power of the Bush administration and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Snyder finished a distant second to Dole with 14 percent of the vote. He's now exploring a second possible Senate bid in 2004.

But he may once again find himself running against the Washington establishment. The White House has indicated that it will support Burr, the five-term Winston-Salem congressman, if he runs for the Senate seat now held by Democrat John Edwards.

Snyder said he is conflicted about the White House involvement.

"We have seen the enormous power of the White House and Washington in state affairs -- not only in North Carolina but around the country," Snyder said. "The president and Karl Rove [Bush's chief political adviser] have developed a strategy and a procedure that is unparalleled in the history of our country. And it has been extraordinarily successful."

Snyder said it is hard to argue with success. After all, the Republicans regained control of the Senate. Snyder said he has a high regard for Burr and understands why the White House has tapped him.

But Snyder said he remains troubled that Washington figures such as Rove can hand-pick Senate candidates in North Carolina.

"I am still concerned and would wish the states could act autonomously as intended by the Founding Fathers," Snyder said.

The blessings of Washington, said Snyder, not only mean presidential visits but also help immeasurably in fund raising. Dole raised $13.4 million in her Senate campaign, in which she defeated Democrat Erskine Bowles.

"Washington influence equals enormous amounts of money from around the country," Snyder said.

Snyder said he is not certain what he will do in 2004, and the White House's backing of Burr could be a factor.

"There are number of races I have an interest in," Snyder said. "The Senate race has been paramount. But I've had more calls about the governor's race. This is an act in a play yet to be written."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: North Carolina
KEYWORDS: jimsynder; northcarolina; oldnorthstate; richardburr; senate; unhelpful; whitehouse
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1 posted on 12/18/2002 7:18:37 AM PST by jern
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To: Constitution Day; mykdsmom
Constitution Day, mykdsmom
2 posted on 12/18/2002 7:21:44 AM PST by jern
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To: jern
< democrat >Richard Burr is a racist. He lives in a town where racists live and he says he loves his town therefore he must mean he loves racism. < /democrat >
3 posted on 12/18/2002 7:24:38 AM PST by AppyPappy
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To: jern; Constitution Day; mykdsmom; Howlin
But I've had more calls about the governor's race.

If Richard Vinroot is the GOP candidate for Governor again, I will not vote for him, nor will I provide any financial or physical labor support to the state GOP. Vinroot needs to be put out to pasture and forgotten about. Jim Snyder and many other possible candidates will be a welcome primary.

4 posted on 12/18/2002 7:39:22 AM PST by Phantom Lord
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To: billbears
But Snyder said he remains troubled that Washington figures such as Rove can hand-pick Senate candidates in North Carolina.
"I am still concerned and would wish the states could act autonomously as intended by the Founding Fathers," Snyder said.

Sigh... here we go again.

5 posted on 12/18/2002 7:46:25 AM PST by Constitution Day
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To: Phantom Lord
Agreed, PL.

Vinroot ran a piss-poor campaign last time and needs to give it up.

6 posted on 12/18/2002 7:47:12 AM PST by Constitution Day
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To: *Old_North_State; **North_Carolina; mykdsmom; Lee'sGhost; KOZ.; borntodiefree; azhenfud; ...
NC ping!
Please FRmail me if you want to be added to or removed from this North Carolina ping list.
7 posted on 12/18/2002 7:48:58 AM PST by Constitution Day
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To: Vinnie; Shapka; The Man; ctnoell; StoneColdTaxHater
FYI
8 posted on 12/18/2002 7:49:46 AM PST by Constitution Day
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To: Constitution Day
But Snyder said he remains troubled that Washington figures such as Rove can hand-pick Senate candidates in North Carolina

What?!? Say it ain't so CD!! I thought normal North Carolinians if left to their vices would naturally pick someone like Giddy to represent us!!

9 posted on 12/18/2002 7:50:24 AM PST by billbears
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To: jern
There's like 9 statewide-elected Democrats in NC and this guy can challenge any of them in 2004. He can show he is a credible candidate for the Senate by accomplishing something in politics.
10 posted on 12/18/2002 7:51:28 AM PST by GraniteStateConservative
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To: Phantom Lord

Great post. I can't stand Vinroot.
11 posted on 12/18/2002 7:53:23 AM PST by jern
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To: Constitution Day
I have met Vinroot several times and I am hard pressed to find a single nice thing to say about him. And I wouldnt be surprised if he was ever elected Governor, that he would attempt to move the state capital to Charlotte.

He was scheduled on many occasions to speak to state and county young republican events and would flat out refuse to come or would schedule an appearence only to cancel to attend a fundraiser. On on the rare occasions that he did agree to come and actually came, he needed directions on how to get to Raleigh!

12 posted on 12/18/2002 7:53:44 AM PST by Phantom Lord
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To: billbears
GRRRRRRRRR!
13 posted on 12/18/2002 7:53:56 AM PST by Constitution Day
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To: jern
Rove and Bysh fed Lott to the democrat alligators, why should they care about a worthwhile conservative that only the people might want.
14 posted on 12/18/2002 7:56:59 AM PST by cynicom
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To: cynicom
Rove and Bysh fed Lott to the democrat alligators...

This is not the topic of this thread, but I will respond. No one tossed Lott to the alligators - he jumped in on his own, and then did everything he could to make sure they noticed him. Bush and the Administration just refused to get in there with him, or to toss him a lifeline.

I'm not happy about the situation with Lott, but isn't it about time you put the blame where it belongs - on Lott's big mouth and tin ear?

15 posted on 12/18/2002 8:04:00 AM PST by CA Conservative
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To: CA Conservative
CA...

I thot the topic was Washington picking our candidates, i.e. Rove and Bush. They "picked" Dole for us, ran Synder off, paid off another candidate debts and then whined for we conservatives to vote for their candidate.

Now they are at it again, they dont want Lott, just the people wanted him, they dont want Snyder, the people are the only ones that do.

16 posted on 12/18/2002 8:15:43 AM PST by cynicom
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To: jern
I am a big fan of Richard Burr and hope he is the candidate. What is not to like.

I like Snyder but we all should have seen this coming. They seem to be on the same page so the decision for me would be who can beat Edwards/the Democrats.
17 posted on 12/18/2002 8:20:19 AM PST by goosie
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To: Phantom Lord
John Hood was talking on NC Spin this weekend that Vinroot still had the fire in the belly so don't count him out, but frankly I think he's got the loser label for good.

Snyder's not bad, but he's always spouting off about the Founding Fathers and whatnot, which comes across to a lot of people as "Nutball". And while he's conservative, I agree that he's never proven himself in the public square so it's hard to know what you're going to get with him.

I will say that he's been relatively gracious and realistic about White House involvement in the primaries.

So if y'all don't like 'Root too much, you probably don't like Mayor Pat either? Personally I'd like him to run for mayor again if only to keep Parks Helms OUT.

18 posted on 12/18/2002 8:27:04 AM PST by JohnnyZ
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To: cynicom
they dont want Snyder, the people are the only ones that do.

The . . . 14% of the people who voted for him against Dole? That's hardly a groundswell. Frankly, even a good part of that is probably a 'message' vote, saying "Dole's OK, but she dang well better vote conservative."

19 posted on 12/18/2002 8:30:25 AM PST by JohnnyZ
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To: cynicom
...they dont want Lott, just the people wanted him...

Well, the people of MS want Lott as their senator, but I don't think the vast majority of conservative Republicans across the country have been thrilled with him as SML for quite some time. Regardless, none of this would have occurred had Lott had better political instincts. Except for him shooting himself in the foot the way he has, Lott would be SML for the next Congress, and no one would have argued.

20 posted on 12/18/2002 8:36:01 AM PST by CA Conservative
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