On the upcoming US Senate primary

Submitted by ajsuited on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 3:53pm

I’m the campaign manager for the Elaine Marshall for Senate Campaign. I’ve taken on this race because I believe that Elaine Marshall is exactly the type of candidate that Democrats need to nominate in 2010: A good government reformer with a solid track record of results and an outsider status.

In 2008, voters were searching for new faces and new ideas. Not this year. With a shaky economy, two wars and an overall mood of uncertainty, people are less likely to take risks on candidates with thin political resumes. Instead, they will be looking for experienced leaders they trust, a rare breed in politics today.

Elaine has earned that trust because of the nature of her accomplishments. As North Carolina’s Secretary of State, she has held financial services firms accountable (such as Deutsche Bank & Credit Suisse), taken on lobbyists in Raleigh, and been a committed advocate for open government in North Carolina. While lobbyists in the state might not like her too much, the voters do. She’s been elected statewide four times and in 2008 received the second highest vote total of any candidate in North Carolina history.

Ironically, the DSCC has given Elaine another advantage: defining her as the anti-establishment candidate with the establishment experience. While the DSCC has made clear their choice, they will not spend money directly in the primary. Instead, they will provide logistical support, advice, staff and contacts. Being the choice of Washington might be an advantage when talking to certain donors, not so much when talking to disgruntled voters.

If the DSCC spends money in the state, they will make that decision late next summer. If Burr’s numbers are still in the 40s in August, the national Democrats will play here regardless of the nominee. If Burr leads the nominee by double digits with an approval over 50%, they will take their money elsewhere.

With the current mixture of anxiety about the future and anti-Washington fervor, Elaine offers the starkest contrast to Burr. She’s a known quantity with a solid record but no ties to the DC establishment. If anybody can keep Burr’s numbers down, it’s her.

A.J. Carrillo
Campaign Manager
Elaine Marshall for Senate
http://www.elainemarshall.com

Frontpaged by James. I want to encourage as much campaign engagement here as possible. That doesn't mean we'll front-page every post from every campaign, but I believe this is a good step in the direction of better-informed voters.

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Glad to see you back

Submitted by James on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 9:31am.

If the DSCC spends money in the state, they will make that decision late next summer. If Burr’s numbers are still in the 40s in August, the national Democrats will play here regardless of the nominee. If Burr leads the nominee by double digits with an approval over 50%, they will take their money elsewhere.

I guess that means one of the main things bloggers and regular citizens can do is point out Burrrrrrr's extremely thin record of doing anything of any value ... without going so far as to cause people to feel sorry for the hapless schmuck? Lord knows, he's provided anyone who cares to look with plenty of ammunition to be used against him.

Do good. Be nice. Have fun.

Her view on the issues?

Submitted by PackMan97 on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 10:34am.

Health care? Deficits? The two wars? etc. Nothing is on her website.

I was commenting on the emails I've been receiving

Submitted by James on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 12:17pm.

You're right about the website, though.

Do good. Be nice. Have fun.

I'm glad to see Marshall's campaign engaging here.

Submitted by Linda on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 4:15pm.

I hope this isn't a "drive-by". I'd like to know Marshall's stand on several important issues. Marriage Equality. Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Early Care and Education. Mental Health Care Parity. Energy Issues. At least some of those issues will be addressed by the Senate in the next term.

The website does not list any position on any issue. Please - if you are not going to address on the website, come back here, and address the issues here. Thanks!

____

edited to add

I just did a quick overview of the website each of the three candidates for the Democratic Nomination for US Senate. All I can say is - I am disappointed in all three. Not one of them talk about what the want to do in the future - just what they've done in the past. Well, all three of them have done great things - different things - but great things - in the past. What about the future. Why should we vote for any of them if they won't tell us if we don't know what they want to do?

A rolling conversation - not a drive by.

Submitted by ajsuited on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 4:39pm.

I appreciate everyone's patience, as I can't reply instantly as I have that whole campaign thing to deal with.

To your point and previous commenter's: We will be introducing our policy positions of substance, not platitudes over the coming weeks.

To briefly address some of the questions, Elaine supports the repeal of DOMA and DADT, took a stand against the escalation in Afghanistan, and she's was the only candidate to advocate for the Public Option.

We look forward to continuing the conversation.

Thanks, A. J.

Submitted by Linda on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 5:03pm.

I really appreciate you taking the time to answer - I appreciate it. I didn't expect to see an answer so quickly - thank you!

Elaine herself in fact

Submitted by Jake Gellar-Goad on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 6:31pm.

did a live blog here on BlueNC on her birthday, and I asked her about some of those lgbt equality issues, and her was here response:

Jake asked about equality issues. I oppose discrimination, support abolishing DADT (if people will serve, we should honor them. Period), oppose DOMA because I don't believe this is the duty of the Federal government and believe it puts the Full Faith and Credit concept in jeopardy, and support the concept of ENDA as described by Jake.

I also wanted to share an e-mail her team sent out recently:

Dear Jake,

After nearly a year-long struggle we thought the healthcare debate in the Senate was settled. But now in Massachusetts, we risk losing the 60th vote. On Tuesday, there's a special election to fill the seat vacated by the death of Ted Kennedy. Attorney General Martha Coakley is Democratic nominee and she's in trouble.

The election is just 4 days away and the latest polls show it a toss-up! We need Martha Coakley in the United States Senate, and she needs your help. She is facing Tea Bag Republican Scott Brown who has vowed to kill healthcare legislation.

You can make a difference this weekend!

Make 10 phone calls for Martha Coakley. Just use this tool from Organizing for America to protect the healthcare bill and send Martha Coakley to the U.S. Senate.

Sincerely,

Elaine Marshall
Secretary of State
Candidate for U.S. Senate

Unless I've missed it (my inbox has been pretty crowded with the spring semester of grad school starting back last week), she is the only one to address this. And I think it highlights an important understanding that if you want to make change in Washington you need the right team to do it, and getting this key democratic vote in is vital.

I was starting to get a little turned off due to the non-policy based intra-party attacks because it is important that none of the campaigns create lasting divides within the democratic party if we hope to unify behind 1 candidate after the primaries to take down Burr, but now that they seem to have a positive spin again oriented towards defining themselves and supporting others like Coakley, I'm back to being fairly undecided on who I'm going to vote for in the primary.

And as long as I'm mentioning stances on lgbt equality answers, I figure its only fair to share the answers I've received from the other candidates too. I didn't exactly ask them all the same questions b/c frankly it hadn't occurred to me that I'd have the opportunity to ask them directly so early on, or that democratic senate candidates would be so open about their stances on lgbt issues, I wish I had so it would be a better 1 to 1 line up of their responses, but I get the sense that all of them now have their hearts in the right place on this issue.

Kenneth Lewis

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?

I’m a firm believer that we should not discriminate against people. That’s part of my core belief structure. We have men and women of all sexual orientations serving in the military. The idea that we would remove an officer or anyone because of his or her sexual orientation is abhorrent to me.

Employee Non-Discrimination Act?

I have not read the Employee Non-Discrimination Act, but I will repeat that I do not believe we should discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation.

Civil Marriage?

I understand people and their religious beliefs and I respect that very much and I would not want to do anything that infringes upon someone exercising their religion, but with respect to government actions and as a society of people who have a variety of faiths and non-faiths, I do not believe we should discriminate.

Cal Cunningham

“I'm pro-equality, from fighting to include orientation in the the non discrimination policy of the University back in 1994 to fighting to include trans-gender in 1996, to being for domestic partnerships from the swing State Senate district in 2000, to being in favor of ending DADT (and refusing to chapter anyone out of the Army for allegations while the senior-most prosecutor in Iraq), to supporting the ENDA, etc.”

Thanks, Jake

Submitted by Linda on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 7:35pm.

I'm glad you've posted those answers. I agree, we don't need intra-party fighting, and I don't want to see it in this Primary. A Transgender Inclusive ENDA is very important to me, and of course, so is the right for adults to marry whomever they wish, and for men and women who wish to serve in our armed services to be able to do so without having to hide their personal life.

Excellent point

Submitted by Foxtrot (not verified) on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 9:18pm.

I just did a quick overview of the website each of the three candidates for the Democratic Nomination for US Senate. All I can say is - I am disappointed in all three. Not one of them talk about what the want to do in the future - just what they've done in the past. Well, all three of them have done great things - different things - but great things - in the past. What about the future. Why should we vote for any of them if they won't tell us if we don't know what they want to do?

You are right. Time we hear more than what they've done and what they stand for. We need to hear what (and just as importantly HOW) they plan to do.

where are you from?

Submitted by TrueMeckDem on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 9:47pm.

and what is your experience?

As a new North Carolinian

Submitted by DanR on Sun, 01/17/2010 - 3:42pm.

I appreciate the information about Marshall's campaign.

I am a resident of the 9th Congressional district. I realize that the makeup of the district makes it highly likely that our, um, rather interesting Congresswoman will be re-elected. Still, I would be very interested in any information that anyone can share about any Democrats considering a run in the 9th.

The only one I have been able to find so far is Jeff Doctor. Does anyone know anything about him?

Thanks.

Oh gee whiz

Submitted by PartieLion on Sun, 01/17/2010 - 6:41pm.

Isn't it about time that Democrats in the 9th got together their closest 150,000 friends and retired Sue? :)

50 states, 210 media market, 435 Congressional Districts, 3080 counties, 192,480 precincts

You mean Liar Sue?

Submitted by James on Sun, 01/17/2010 - 7:46pm.

Liar Sue Myrick, who promised (like Francis Roche is promising) to serve only a few terms then leave office for good.

It's truly remarkable that she skated on breaking such a huge promise. How can so many people be so dumb?

Do good. Be nice. Have fun.

I can think of one very good reason

Submitted by DanR on Sun, 01/17/2010 - 3:59pm.

to vote for any of the three who win the nomination. Because they will have earned the nomination of the Democratic party.

Have we forgotten so soon what we got from a Republican party that controlled all the levers of power at the national level? Would any serious person argue that those folks returning to power would not have an adverse effect on the lives of many Americans who can little afford to take the hit?

I understand that a winning candidate must have an affirmative message telling voters why they should pull the lever for them. That articulating a vision for the future is essential. A resume and a sterling history isn't enough. But frankly, I'd vote for Joe Schmuckatelli if he had a (D) next to his name. I don't want to see Mitch McConnell being referred to as "majority" leader any time soon. And I want to see Big Tommy's little girl keep running the House too.