NC-Sen: Elaine's Closing (and Opening) Argument

Thomas Mills from Elaine Marshall's campaign has just sent out a closing argument for the runoff election that illustrates why Elaine is the right choice for North Carolina Democrats on Tuesday. This memo also serves as the opening argument for the general election.

Enjoy...

Date: June 18, 2010
To: Interested parties
From: Thomas Mills, The Elaine Marshall Committee
Re: The Path to Victory--November

The Strongest Candidate, the Choice of Democrats

As the North Carolina Senate runoff heads into the final stretch, Elaine Marshall has proven herself to be the strongest candidate to take on Richard Burr in November. At a time when voters feel let down by institutions, are uncertain about the future and are mistrustful of Washington, they want the answer to two questions: “Are you on my side?” and “Why should I trust you?” Marshall wins on both counts. She’s a fighter with a history of standing up for the people of North Carolina and winning against powerful interests.

Elaine Marshall’s success in the May 4 Democratic Primary highlighted the strength of her organization and the depth of her support among the party’s base. She won 74 of the state’s 100 counties, nine of the 10 media markets and all the counties that house military bases.

Since the primary, she has solidified and expanded her Democratic base with the endorsement of third‐place finisher Ken Lewis and African‐American leaders across the state. Marshall has also received the enthusiastic backing of many netroots organizations and women’s groups, including MoveOn, National Organization of Women, Democracy for America and the Women’s Campaign Forum.

In addition, Marshall is a proven vote‐getter. In 2004, when Bush carried the Republican ticket, Marshall received over 100,000 more votes than Burr, and in 2008, she received the second highest vote total in North Carolina history.
In the PPP poll taken on June 8, Marshall trails Burr by only 7 points and is the only candidate among Burr, Cal Cunningham and Marshall who has a net positive approval rating. She is also competitive across demographic and geographic lines. She leads Burr among women and in the 919 area code (Triangle). She is tied with him in all of eastern North Carolina and the 704 area code (Charlotte). In contrast, Cunningham trails Burr heavily in virtually every category.

The Contrast

Voters want someone who is on their side, and someone who will get things done. Marshall’s record shows her strength.

Taking on Wall Street

Marshall’s long record as a reformer who has stood with people against powerful interests offers a stark contrast to Richard Burr. As Secretary of State, she oversees investment securities and charitable contributions. In the past 18 months alone, Marshall has recovered more than $500 million from Wall Street banks that misled North Carolina investors, including charities and pension funds. Burr, on the other hand, was pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations from those same bankers; protecting their interests by voting for the $750 billion bailout and then failing to reign in Wall Street abuses or offer any solutions to the problems that created this mess.

Taking on Insurance Companies

Throughout her career, Marshall has sided with the people over the health insurance companies. Before she was an elected official she fought to expand coverage by joining a grassroots lobbying effort to require insurance companies to cover mammograms and pap smears. In the state senate, she pushed through legislation that expanded coverage in rural areas. Over the course of his career, Richard Burr has taken millions of dollars from the healthcare, insurance and pharmaceutical industries, and he’s stood on their side, protecting corporate profits at the expense of the health and well‐being of North Carolina.

Beating Special Interests

In 2003, Marshall commissioned a blue‐ribbon panel to examine North Carolina’s lobbying laws, some of the loosest in the nation. Conventional wisdom held that reform would be difficult, if not impossible. Marshall defied expectations by pushing through a bill that provided transparency, increased reporting procedures and restricted lobbying activities. Burr, in contrast, is one of the largest recipients of special interest money in Congress. Over and over, it is the special interests that have his ear, and the special interests that have his vote.

The Power of Women

In the 2010 general election, women will make up 55% of electorate. In 2008, seven of the ten Democrats elected statewide in North Carolina were women.

Elaine Marshall built her career fighting for issues important to women. She was part of a grassroots effort that forced insurance companies to cover mammograms and pap smears. As a state senator, she handled the Marital Rape bill, ending the law that said a man could not be charged with raping his wife. And in 1996, she became
the first woman in North Carolina history elected to a statewide executive branch office, defeating NASCAR legend Richard Petty.

In contrast, Burr has amassed a disturbing record of supporting measures that are discriminatory toward women. Most recently, he voted against the Franken Rape Amendment and opposed a ban on insurance companies that use domestic violence as a rationale for denying women health coverage. Burr’s record will give independent women a reason to vote against him; the contrast will drive women to the polls in droves on Marshall’s behalf.

Summary

This year, voters are looking for candidates who can fix what they perceive as a broken government and broken institution. They don’t trust Washington, but they are not looking for inexperience. Elaine Marshall provides the track record and the results voters seek. She’s stood up to powerful interests and won. She’s been a reformer who reduced the influence of special interests. She’s been elected four times and avoided the scandals that have plagued other politicians. She’s what North Carolina voters want this year. And that’s why Elaine Marshall will defeat Richard Burr.