Marshalling No Enthusiasm

Excuse the big yawn from many Democrats at the news Elaine Marshall apparently will run for Senate.
 
I say apparently because, as the N&O noted, her consultant announced her candidacy. She was not available to speak for herself. Not a good sign. And not the sign of a committed candidate.
 
Yes, she is a woman, and that is a plus. And she does hold statewide office. But don’t get carried away.
 
She finished a poor third when she ran against Erskine Bowles and Dan Blue for Senate in 2002. She didn’t generate much enthusiasm or raise much money.
 
She owes her reputation as a giant-killer to beating Richard Petty for Secretary of State in 1996. But Petty was one of those candidates who peaked the day he announced. Then ran his own campaign off the road when he “bumped” a slow driver on the Interstate. Besides, not everybody in North Carolina is a NASCAR fan – or convinced that a good race driver would be a good elected official.
 
To scare Ken Lewis and Cal Cunningham out of the race, Marshall is going to have to show some fire she hasn’t shown before.
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Gary Pearce

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Marshalling No Enthusiasm

Excuse the big yawn from many Democrats at the news Elaine Marshall apparently will run for Senate.
 
I say apparently because, as the N&O noted, her consultant announced her candidacy. She was not available to speak for herself. Not a good sign. And not the sign of a committed candidate.
 
Yes, she is a woman, and that is a plus. And she does hold statewide office. But don’t get carried away.
 
She finished a poor third when she ran against Erskine Bowles and Dan Blue for Senate in 2002. She didn’t generate much enthusiasm or raise much money.
 
She owes her reputation as a giant-killer to beating Richard Petty for Secretary of State in 1996. But Petty was one of those candidates who peaked the day he announced. Then ran his own campaign off the road when he “bumped” a slow driver on the Interstate. Besides, not everybody in North Carolina is a NASCAR fan – or convinced that a good race driver would be a good elected official.
 
To scare Ken Lewis and Cal Cunningham out of the race, Marshall is going to have to show some fire she hasn’t shown before.
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Gary Pearce

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