Debate for Edwards's senate seat on C-Span NOW.

[gauguin57]

Carl Kassel of NPR is the moderator (if you've ever wondered what he looks like!)

Debate is Richard Burr (R) vs. Erskine Bowles (D) for John Edwards's senate seat in N.C.

Erskine Bowles was Clinton's deputy chief of staff and then chief of staff (so, of course, the 'pugs tie him to Clinton constantly as if that were a BAD thing).

[Was_Immer]

1. Do the Dems have a chance in NC?

Dunno am asking, anyone know the polls? Talking about both presidential and senatorial campaigns

[ncrainbowgrrl]

5. Yes. NC is a nice shade of purplish-blue.

Bowles has led Burr the entire race. Although Burr is closing the gap, his name recognition is still a joke...

The democratic governor (Easley) is going to be re-elected

Lots of energy on the ground for Kerry. So many signs. So many disallusioned former Bush voters. So many military families- so many people for whom this election may literally mean the difference between life and death of a loved one.

I'm seeing more and more republicans for Kerry signs and bumper stickers every day. I saw a car yesterday with a "republicans for kerry" bumpersticker right next to the (older) "SORE/LOSERMAN 2000" sticker.

I'm hopin' that it goes so so so so so blue that we have to argue if it's Carolina Blue or Duke Blue for years to come!

[Cha]

2. Thanks! I'm going!

:toast:

[Cha]

3. OOOOUUUUUU! That burr looks and sounds like

a typical slimy repuke!

[gauguin57]

4. Burr looks like a televangelist.

Wow -- interesting stuff about the Democrat, Bowles:

I never realized Erskine Bowles' father (Skipper Bowles) and sister both died of Lou Gehrig's disease. And his father helped found The Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, which does scientific work on the biological causes of alcohol addiction.

From Erskine Bowles' bio:

"He built two successful North Carolina financial-services companies. He was Director of the nation's Small Business Administration. He served as White House Chief of Staff under President Clinton. As White House Chief of Staff, Erskine took a salary of just $1 a year.

"Erskine and his wife Crandall have been married for 33 years. They have three grown children, Sam, Annie and Bill. Family has always come first for Erskine, and family led him into public service. Erskine lost his father, Skipper, and his sister, Martha, to Lou Gehrig's Disease. His two sons suffered from juvenile diabetes. Erskine saw first-hand why health care is essential for all families."

[gauguin57]

6. Bowles kids have juvenile diabetes. Father and sister had Lou Gehrig's ...

... Kerry would have a great partner -- on both the health-care front and the stem-cell front -- in Erskine Bowles.

I'm listening to Bowles, who has been both a businessman and a public servant, and can't believe that phony Liddy Dole was preferable to the voters of N.C. the last time around. Geez!

[Awsi Dooger]

7. I watched this a couple of nights ago

Bowles was very impressive. There was one question referring to Edwards' flurry of absences the last two years and asking these candidates if planned to use the senate seat as a stepping stone. Bowles laughed and said he already had more than he needs of the White House.

Latenight is a great source of these senate and gov debates on CSPAN. Last night, post midnight Pacific time, I watched the North Carolina gov debate, North Dakota gov debate, and Utah gov debate. A night earlier they had the South Carolina senate debate. Most of them are a few days old.