Cooper for Senate

This was not submitted for BlueNC WoW, but it was written by a female writer here at BlueNC and deserves wider attention.

Last summer, Roy Cooper sent an e-mail out to supporters announcing that he'd be seeking re-election as the state's top law enforcement official. The e-mail put to rest widespread speculation that Cooper would join Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue and State Treasurer Richard Moore in vying for the governor's mansion. Cooper's friends say the decision was personal, not political--that he'd rather spend time with his two daughters and that he genuinely enjoys his work with the state's Department of Justice.

"You can make a real difference," Cooper told N&O Political Reporter, Rob Christensen, in August. "Bill Clinton once said the best job he ever had was being attorney general."

Indeed he did...and yet, somehow, within a year of becoming attorney general, he had already made up his mind to run for governor.

Clinton had to ask himself what mattered most: being able to do a job that you enjoy or building a better world for the people that you love. He could stay in a job which "when well done, naturally engenders public approval," or take a job which forces you to make tough decisions that might alienate some. He could influence change or he could make change.

His passion for equal opportunity, his disdain for the arbitrary and abusive exercise of power, his desire to protect the land, air and water of his home state and his contempt for inadequate economic opportunity that left even the most industrious people struggling, all trumped the personal enjoyment he derived from being Attorney General. So, two years after stepping into his first publicly elected office, Bill Clinton became the nation's youngest governor.

Ultimately, Bill Clinton made the decision that made political and philosophical sense and, now, Roy Cooper ought to do the same. In politics, candidates--the good ones, at least--don't pick the moments; the moments pick them. And, this is Cooper's moment...he ought to forego his re-election campaign and seek higher office...a run for the U.S. Senate.

Politically, the decision makes sense. There's no doubt that Cooper's achieved an unprecedented level of popularity in recent months. It's not popularity mistaken for infamy--the achievement of far too many politicians these days; it's a genuine popularity that comes from doing your job well and having people respect you for it. With Perdue and Moore running for Governor and Govs. Jim Hunt and Mike Easley and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall stating unequivocally that they're not interested in higher office, Cooper's one of a handful of viable Democrats with experience running statewide. If Cooper runs, he'll immediately be considered the frontrunner for the nomination...and his electoral success, during the last two presidential elections, could scare off any likely primary opponents.

More importantly, Dole is vulnerable. According to a poll released last week by Public Policy Polling, Dole's approval rating is just 48 percent, replicating an earlier result from the DSCC. For the record, at this time last year, Jim Talent, Conrad Burns, George Allen and Lincoln Chafee had higher job approval ratings...and well, you know what happened to them.

Philosophically, a Senate run poses a great opportunity for Cooper to broaden the scope of the work he's done during his political career. As Attorney General, he's made his priorities fighting crime, helping consumers and preserving our environment. In North Carolina, that's meant tracking down bioterrorism toxins, developing solutions to the healthcare conundrum and reducing pollution, but on the national stage (which a winning Senate campaign would inevitably provide), Cooper could have a hand in strengthening the national defense against terrorism, providing health care for the 47 million Americans who are without it and finding a lasting solution to the problem of global warming. If these are the issues he truly cares about, Cooper should relish the opportunity to do more.

It's widely assumed that Cooper's got his eye on the governor's mansion, but assuming we elect a Democratic governor in 2008 (which I, of course, think is highly likely), Cooper may not get his shot at the governor's mansion until 2016...and who knows what could happen in those eight years. Don't believe me?

Ask Colin Powell--in eight years, he went from being the frontrunner for the presidency in 1996 to resigning as Secretary of State in 2004. Or Jim Black--who in eight short years, rose and fell as Speaker of the House. One year is a lifetime in politics...eight years is eons...and, ultimately, the only thing you can control is the exercise of your own ambition. It's time for Roy Cooper to do that...it's up to Cooper to take hold of his political destiny...

Roy Cooper for Senate 2008.

(Originally posted at ROH)