Bowles makes economy theme for Senate run

[surfermaw]

Bowles makes economy theme for Senate run
Democrat uses line from Reagan to rally crowd in Asheville
MARK JOHNSON
Raleigh Bureau

ASHEVILLE - Charlotte investment banker Erskine Bowles made the stumbling economy the central issue of his second campaign for the U.S. Senate this weekend, assuring a crowd of cheering Democrats that this time he'll win.

"We may want to steal a line from a Republican president Ronald Reagan," Bowles told the audience at the Democratic Party's annual fall gathering, "and ask: `Are you better off than you were four years ago?' "

Bowles enters the race with a familiar name and ample amounts of cash, the essential ingredients to an election victory, but also the record of a crushing loss to now-Sen. Elizabeth Dole last year in which he didn't win a single county. He recounted telling a listener after a recent speech: "I want to run for the Senate in the worst way."

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http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/politics/6994695.htm?

[CMT]

1. our candidates in Kentucky and North Carolina have the right idea

hit the Republicans hard on the economy especially in the south where many manufacturing jobs have been lost.

[MrPeepers]

2. He's going to have my vote.

This is going to be a close one, but I think Bowles can pull it out this time.

Peepers

[mndemocrat_29]

3. I agree

It's going to be close, but I think we'll have Sen. Bowles in 2004.

[surfermaw]

4. Bush's coattail shouldn't be very long here

Elizabeth Dole rode Bush's coattail, at every stop she made it known, she would follow the Bush lead... I don't think in the comming race, people in a hard hit state where unemployment is a concern, will want to follow Bush.The political climate may be changing even mor than we think in N.C...