CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
March 30, 2009 – 10:55 p.m.
Burr’s Attention to Black Community May Help Save His Seat
By Jonathan Allen, CQ Staff
Sen. Richard M. Burr has opened his ears — and his earmarks — to African-American causes.
Though only 12 percent of his votes came from black constituents in 2004, the North Carolina Republican’s attention to that segment of the electorate could pay dividends in 2010 — either by lowering intensity of black opposition to him or by showing white voters that Burr can work across political and racial spectrums.
It is the kind of political legwork that might make a subtle but significant difference in a close race.
“Those of us who read the records are very clear on what he’s done,” said George E. Battle Jr., a bishop in the A.M.E. Zion Church who supported Burr’s 2004 opponent, Democrat Erskine Bowles. “He’s always responsive. He’s always there.”
In February, Burr introduced legislation (
He has been involved in efforts to combat sickle cell disease and to reauthorize the Healthy Start program, which is designed to reduce infant mortality and the number of babies born at low weights. Both issues disproportionately affect African-Americans.
The Money Train
Burr’s cash injections can be quantified more easily than his work on policy issues.
In fiscal 2008, for example, he helped win more than $800,000 for Central Piedmont Community College, a majority-minority institution based in Charlotte that serves 70,000 students per year.
North Carolinans say Burr and his legislative aides provide exceptional service to constituents, regardless of political affiliation or race.
“He’s had the best group of folks up there of any congressional people I’ve ever worked with. They’re eager to serve and you don’t feel like you’re imposing on them,” said Tony Zeiss, who has been Central Piedmont’s president since 1992.
In 2008, Burr was the sole Senate sponsor of earmarks for predominantly black North Carolina Central University, renovations at the old Booker T. Washington High School in Rocky Mount, which is now a community center, and wastewater treatment in Durham, where the population is heavily African-American.
“Sen. Burr’s primary goal in the Senate is to be accessible to his constituents and provide quality service to the people of North Carolina,” Burr press secretary David Ward said. “He doesn’t believe you can address economic concerns, provide quality health care, or ensure quality education if we ignore the challenges facing any of our communities in North Carolina.”
North Carolina Rep. Melvin Watt , a former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus who has worked with Burr on earmark requests, said Burr is simply “a decent guy.”
“I wouldn’t even attribute political motives to him,” Watt said.
Low Intensity?
Jeffrey M. Elliot, chairman of the political science department at North Carolina Central University, said Burr’s outreach to African-Americans is so low-profile — and so much less important than his stance against the interests of black voters on major social and economic issues — that it isn’t likely to win him many votes.
“Given a clear choice, it’s not going to make much of a difference if his opponent has a strong commitment to social justice and political change,” Elliot said.
At most, Elliot said, Burr’s work “may blunt the intensity of opposition” in the African-American community.
Battle, a former school board president who sits on Central Piedmont’s board, provides a personal example of that sentiment.
“In knowing all that I know about him, I certainly wouldn’t have a lot of reservations — if the right candidate wasn’t running against him — to vote for him.”
Right now, that remains a big “if.”
No Opponent — Yet
Democrats have reason to be excited about their prospects in North Carolina: In November, Barack Obama became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the state’s electoral votes since Jimmy Carter in 1976 and helped sweep a virtually unknown state senator, Kay Hagan , to victory over Elizabeth Dole, a nationally recognized Republican.
Recent polling suggests that Burr could get a run for his money from state Attorney Gen. Roy Cooper, who is well-regarded among national Democrats.
Add to that the seat’s mysterious curse — no one has won a second full term to Burr’s seat since Watergate committee chairman Sam Ervin retired in 1974 — and there should be a long line of Democrats ready to challenge the incumbent.
But the line appears to be moving away from Burr.
Democratic Reps. Brad Miller and Heath Shuler have taken themselves out of the running, and local newspapers are full of names of possible candidates who have ruled out a challenge or are leaning against it.
National Democrats are hoping Cooper will jump in but say the race will be close no matter who opposes Burr.
“We believe Attorney General Roy Cooper would make an excellent candidate. North Carolinians are disappointed they are getting more of the same inside Washington game-playing from Sen. Burr,” said Eric Schultz, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “Given how vulnerable Sen. Burr is this cycle, North Carolina will definitely be a competitive race in 2010.”
Comments
Considering his bitter, unfounded comments about a "decent guy" like Burr, it sounds like Schultz would definitely know about "more of the same inside-Washington gameplaying."
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