Rep. Richard Burr has many titles, but there is one he cherishes above all others: “Dad.”
Addressing students at North Carolina State University Monday night, the five-time North Carolina congressman and Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate grinned as he called his two sons—along with their peers—the “personal reason” he chose to run for office this fall.
“I believe that the issues that we are going to decide in the next four years are of the magnitude that if we get them wrong, we will have given you an absolute mess,” he said, gesturing to his young audience. “This next election cycle is truly about the future.”
Known to supporters as both a family man and a devoted, approachable representative, Burr came to Congress in 1995 with the goal of reducing federal taxes after a 17-year sales management career. His strong support for Republican initiatives rapidly helped him earn the admiration of his party’s leadership.
“He’s a quick study,” said Rep. Howard Coble, R-N.C. “I noticed that from the very inception of his career in the House. He grasps an issue and very readily masters it.”
Burr is currently the vice chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, but he has devoted much of his tenure to another pressing national issue.
“He’s pretty much carved his niche in the area of health care,” said Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., who entered the House the same year as Burr. “He has a strong desire to try and reduce the health costs of the American people.”
Burr was the initial sponsor of the “Medicare Rx 2000” bill, which, among other items, offers Medicare beneficiaries a choice of drug insurance plans. He has also signed a pledge in support of legislation that limits non-economic medical liability awards and voted against the re-importation of prescription drugs.
Despite Burr’s legislative efforts in areas such as health care, much of the recent media attention surrounding the congressman has focused on his campaign finances. Burr has received more than $1.9 million in political action committee contributions, making him the top recipient of special interest monies in the House.
Some Democratic critics say this has and will continue to influence his decisions in Washington, pointing to votes Burr has cast for legislation that favors pharmaceutical companies and other large business groups who support him.
“He hasn’t put the interests of North Carolina before the interests of some of his biggest contributors,” said Barbara Allen, chair of the North Carolina Democratic party.
Campaign spokesperson Doug Heye denied this accusation, calling Burr’s voting record “clear and consistent.”
Neighbor and college friend Steve Ashworth also defended Burr, emphasizing that the Congressman’s deep-seated values were the main source of his political decisions. “Richard just wants to do the right thing,” Ashworth said. “People have different opinions about how to get things done, whether you go through big government [or] big business, but he has the well-being of his electorate at heart.”
Democratic opponent Erskine Bowles has also criticized Burr for “voting with the [George W. Bush] administration 95 percent of the time” or lacking an “independent voice.” Burr, however, said he does not simply vote along party lines, citing the differing opinions he and the administration had on the initial structure of the newest Medicare bill.
“We have differed on legislation, and I haven’t been shy to vote against it or work against it,” he said.
Bowles is currently topping Burr by 10 percentage points in statewide polls. Heye, however, attributed these results to the media and electorate’s current focus on the presidential campaign and party conventions as opposed to the Burr-Bowles battle.
“The more attention people pay, the more [Burr] will increase in the polls,” Heye said, confident that the race will receive more coverage in the coming weeks.
Heye also pointed out that in the 1998 senatorial race, current vice-presidential nominee John Edwards came back to win after being down 15 points in the late summer.
Friends and supporters are optimistic about the final stretch of Burr’s campaign, asserting that his amiable, dedicated appeal will propel him to a win in November.
“He’s a very gregarious fellow, easy to be with [and] good company,” Coble said. “That’s the reason he’s an effective candidate.”
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