NORTH CAROLINA: GOP FIELD TO FEATURE A GRAY AREA?

C. Boyden Gray (R), a DC “superlawyer” and ex-Bush 41 WH Counsel, is mulling a bid for the GOP nod to replace retiring Sen. Jesse Helms (R), according to well-informed Hotline GOP sources. His proponents believe Gray would be a “more formidable general election” foe against ex-WH CoS Erskine Bowles (D). As one Gray proponent puts it: “Boyden matches Bowles in money, skills and temperament.” Gray is independently wealthy and could “easily self-fund” the race, according to these sources. As for making a final decision to run, friends say they are not sure, but that Gray “has not said ‘no'” and seems “undaunted” by Elizabeth Dole’s “high place in the polls.” Gray, who once clerked for ex-SCOTUS Chief Justice Earl Warren, is a favorite of TV bookers when the issues of the day legal in nature. Search The Hotlinedatabase for “Boyden” during the times of impeachemnt and the FL recount and you’ll find numerous hits.

As for Gray’s ties to NC, his father was pres. and Chair of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co, in Winston-Salem, served as UNC pres. in the ’50s and as chair of Piedmont Publishing Co. which publishes the Winston-Salem Journal. Gray’s cousin, Lyons Gray, currently sits in the NC General Assemb. And just this week, Gray, currently the chair of Citizens for a Sound Economy, was honored along with Reps. Richard Burr (R-05) and Howard Coble

(R-06) at a dinner in Winston-Salem by the state’s CSE chapter (Hotline sources, 10/24).

BLUE MAKES IT OFFICIAL

On 10/23, state Rep. Dan Blue (D), officially announced his bid for the Dem nod. Blue “pledged a campaign for working families, promising to champion public school funding, a higher minimum wage, a prescription drug insurance plan and the fight against privatizing Social Security.” Blue’s focus on “working people” and his “upbringing” on a Robeson Co. farm “will allow him to draw distinctions with at least one of his primary opponents” — Bowles. Blue’s supporters believe he can “overcome Bowles’ financial advantage.” State Rep. Martin Nesbitt (D): “Some people forget the Democratic party is about people and working people. It’s not about money. The Republican Party is about money” (Johnson, Charlotte Observer, 10/23).

Blue: “Now, more than ever, we need experienced leadership in the Senate. We need the experience of legislating — forging relationships and coalitions to get things done. We need someone with a record of commitment to working people — to public education, job security and a secure retirement.”

More Blue: “Now I know I haven’s spent as much time in corporate boardrooms. But I think those folks have enough influence already, and they’ll be able to take care of themselves” (release, 10/23).

While Blue “has been part of the Raleigh political scene

for decades,” public opinion polls “suggest that he is not well-known by rank-and-file voters across the state.” To win th Dem primary, “Blue must energize African-American voters, who make up” 22%-30% of the vote in Dem primaries, “depending on the turnout.” He also needs to “reach out” to white Dem liberals.

Blue also “may have to mend some fences” with some Dems who were “soured on Blue when he tried to regain the speakership by building a coalition” with GOPers.

“No African-American has been elected to the U.S. Senate from the South since Reconstruction,” but Blue “says his career has been one of firsts.” Blue: “I contend that [race] is not a factor. I am going to run a campaign predicated on that assumption” (Christensen, Raleigh News & Observer, 10/24).

BOB DOLE’S “UNBIASED OPINION” ON THE RACE

In an interview with Charlotte Business Journal, ex-Sen.

Bob Dole (R-KS) gave his thoughts on the race, Jesse Helms and his living arrangement. B. Dole’s “unbiased opinion” on the

race: “I think there are a number of good people in the race. Of course, I think Elizabeth has a great opportunity. She has great experience, she knows this town (DC), she knows how it works, and she gets along well with people on both sides of the aisle.”

On Helms: “Jesse gets a bad rap for being right wing, but

he does a lot of nice things. If you want to know about Jesse, go ask the Senate pages. Some of the members won’t even talk to the pages; Jesse takes them for ice cream, It’s not in the paper, he just does it. He’s a softy when you get right down to it.”

On where in NC the Doles will live: “It’s going to be her mother’s home in Salisbury. We’ll probably be like the Clintons and be commuting back and forth” (10/22).

BOWLES HELPS MAYORAL CANDIDATE RAISE $40K

Ella Scarborough’s (D) “campaign for Charlotte mayor received an infusion of cash last week with a fund-raiser” at Bowles’ home that “netted” $40K (Charlotte Observer, 10/24).

Other GOPers: Ex-Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot; Lexington atty Jim Snyder; Lumberton radiologist Jim Parker; Salisbury physician Ada Fisher. Other Dems: NC Sec/State Elaine Marshall; ex-Superior Court Judge Ray Warren.