With less than four months until the Democratic senatorial primary in May, the campaign has begun to shape itself around the three main candidates-one of whom will eventually challenge the Republican incumbent, Senator Lauch Faircloth.
Ella Scarborough, D.G. Martin and John Edwards are the top contenders in the battle to fill the Democratic slot. With the absence of big-name Democrats from the candidate field such as North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt or Harvey Gantt, who ran for Senate and lost more than one year ago, a fairly unknown group of contenders has emerged from the woodwork.
Political experts have tagged Martin and Edwards the early favorites to capture the Democratic nomination, with Scarborough not far behind. Four other candidates round out the field: Bob Ayers, James Carmack, Gene Gay and Mike Robinson.
Martin, who is a millionaire and former University of North Carolina lobbyist, believes that economic standing does not translate into a detachment from average North Carolinians. "Whatever my economic circumstance may be," he said, "my record of public service, church involvement and how I live have shown people... that there is no way that any of us who have better economic circumstances will enjoy them if others aren't."
Despite his financial good fortune, Martin plans to focus on issues rather than economic standing in his campaign. "A majority of North Carolinians want a positive and optimistic voice in Washington," he said. "My activity as legislative liaison at the UNC system gave me the deep confidence in a good, strong ability to operate within the context of a legislative body composed of many different and diverse people."
Education, Martin explained, "is the key issue to address in government and that is the centerpiece of my campaign."
Martin has proposed during the race to restrict fundraising in Washington D. C. and to prevent negative campaign advertisement campaigns. "What separates me is a responsibility to make the political process a little better," said Martin, who has organized joint appearances of the candidates and the media in cities such as Charlotte and Asheville.
Although Martin acknowledged that "a lot of [the campaign financing] can't be determined or predicted," he suggested that the general election and primary costs could total several millions of dollars.
Edwards, also a millionaire, has devoted much or his time to reaching the ordinary people of North Carolina, said his campaign press secretary Rob Black. An attorney for 20 years in Raleigh, Edwards has spent his career representing "average families and children," Black said. As part of his campaign to reach the people, Edwards has pledged not to accept campaign contributions from lobbyists.
Edwards is focusing on healthcare and a "patients bill of rights so patients and doctors have choice in all medical decisions," Black said. Along with healthcare, Black explained, Edwards stressed the importance of daycare and education. Having developed a learning lab in which computers are made readily available to school children five days a week, she continued, Edwards looks forward to helping improve all facets of life for his constituents.
"John wants to go to the Senate to represent the average, hardworking North Carolinian," Black said. "[He] is willing to spend his hard earned money to show the people that he is not beholden to anyone but the people." Black added that the amount of funding for Edwards' campaign is "not available." Edwards could not be reached for comment.
Scarborough, meanwhile, considers herself more a voice of the people because she said her background and experience mirrors that of the people she hopes to represent.
"In this Senate race when you have so many rich men running, money begets money," she said. "I'm putting all my efforts on the issues and the people.... I happen to be just an ordinary person. I'm praying that the people of North Carolina see the real deal."
Scarborough, who served 10 years as a city council member in Charlotte, N.C., and as president of the North Carolina League of Municipalities, said she is "running because the everyday people like you and I are not being represented." Scarborough estimates that she will spend approximately $600,000 for media and $100,000 for radio advertisements in her campaign.
Scarborough pledges to focus on the family, which she believes is a crucial link to the elderly and issues concerning childcare, along with all facets of everyday life.
"I have not been able to separate the family from education," she said. She has urged finance reform and hopes to reach the common people through her grass-roots fundraising and her connection with the people of North Carolina.
Democratic voters will elect their candidate in the primary election on May 5; the nominee will then square off against Faircloth in the general election in November.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.