RALEIGH — North Carolina’s campaign season officially began Monday as election boards statewide began collecting names to put on the ballot in a year when Democratic candidates start in an unusual place — on the defensive.
Democratic U.S. Reps. Larry Kissell and Bob Etheridge and Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate Mike Beitler were among the first at the N.C. State Board of Elections to sign their paperwork within an hour of the noon opening of the candidate filing period. Several judicial candidates and district attorney hopefuls also arrived.
Candidates for the 170 seats in the N.C. General Assembly and local races filed in their home counties. The filing period continues until noon Feb. 26. The primary is May 4 and the general election Nov. 2.
Election cycles of 2006 and 2008 were good for Democrats, who used their fundraising advantage and voter unhappiness with President Bush and the economy to knock off three GOP incumbents in federal races, including U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole. Democrats also retained the governorship and expanded their advantage in the legislature.
But recent GOP victories in Massachusetts, Virginia and New Jersey, along with voter worries about the sour economy and health care legislation pushed by President Barack Obama, have led some state Republicans to believe 2010 will be better.
“I certainly am optimistic about the change in the general political environment and the quality of candidates that we have,” said N.C. Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, who planned to file for re-election at the county elections board Monday afternoon. But with nine months to go before the general election, Berger added, “the world is going to turn over a lot between now and then.”
The federal race with the greatest chance to be competitive appears to be in the 8th District seat held by Kissell, who defeated GOP U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes in 2008.
Kissell, a Montgomery County schoolteacher, has faced criticism within his own party for voting against the House health care bill — he said it would break his campaign promise not to cut Medicare benefits — and was already considered an early GOP target.
“We are about doing the people’s business and working hard, keeping our promises,” Kissell said as he filed for re-election in Raleigh. “They judge you for what you do.”
Etheridge, who is seeking his eighth term in the 8th District, said the fortunes of both major political parties could improve if the economy improves and double-digit unemployment rates fall. He said lawmakers can pass legislation to help encourage job growth. He filed a bill to give tax credits to businesses that expand their payrolls through 2011.
“This is a tough year for everybody,” he said. “There’s a lot of work we have yet to do this year before we can get to a campaign season.”
Beitler, a professor at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro who wants to unseat U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., is banking on voters to be displeased with both Democrats and Republicans. At least three Democrats and one Republican in addition to Burr are expected to enter the race.
“I think it’s time for another alternative because we have big spending from both parties,” Beitler said.
Other candidates who filed Monday include N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Bob Hunter of Marion, who is seeking an N.C. Supreme Court seat; Republican Jake Howard of Franklin, who wants to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler in the 11th District; and Republican Frank Roche, who wants to challenge 4th District U.S. Rep. David Price, another Democrat.
