Closing up shop

Since we've had no responses to our previous post ("Requiem for a Draft movement"), wondering who to support in the absence of Coop, I think that means either no one is paying attention to the blog of a failed draft movement, or else people honestly don't have any clue which candidate to back. Either way, I think that means it's time for the blog to sign off. It's been fun.

A few items of interest, though:

• There is one announced Democratic candidate for Senate in 2010 named Cooper! But it's not Roy, it's Nathaniel Cooper. Don't confuse the two. According to his website, Nathaniel is a distinguished U.S. Army veteran and very well-educated. In that case, whoever did his website is not doing him any favors, particularly when it says he is going to put ethics back "IN TO THE POLITICAL HALLS OF WASHING, DC."
• Meanwhile, there's another draft movement afoot: Draft Cal Cunningham. Good luck to all involved.
• Since my last post, Grier Martin has said he won't be a candidate, and Heath Shuler seems to be taking another look at the race. Also, state senators Malcolm Graham and Dan Blue are giving it consideration.

Thanks to everyone who followed the blog and here's to an interesting 2010 election!

Requiem for a Draft Movement

Fellow Coop drafters, be disappointed, but do not despair. We were in this for the right reason: we thought -- and continue to think -- that Coop would have been the best candidate for Senate in 2010. We were successful to the extent that 1) we reminded people of Coop's good qualities as a public official; 2) we made more people pay attention to the 2010 race, and 3) we contributed to the buzz that Coop was a likely candidate (the N&O often said he was “widely expected to run”). We even had President Obama on our side.

So we asked Coop to run, and he surprisingly -- but politely -- said “no, thanks.” Perhaps he just decided he’d rather be governor someday than senator. He would be great in either position. Or maybe he didn’t want his children growing up in some combination of NC and DC. In any event, we should be glad that we will continue to benefit from his service here in the Tar Heel state.

There’s not much else we can do now, but we should not give up on 2010. Many so-called “party favorites” declined to run in 2008, but little-known Kay Hagan ended up winning anyway.

I'll open up this forum to ask whom, if anyone, we should support now for Senate in 2010. A few possibilities:

• Cal Cunningham (of the Lexington area) -- former state senator; attorney; served with U.S. Army Reserves in Iraq; has publicly announced interest in running
• Kenneth Lewis (of the Durham area) -- attorney; has publicly announced interest in running
• Grier Martin (of Raleigh) -- state representative; attorney; served with U.S. Army Reserves in Afghanistan
• Richard Moore (of the Oxford area) -- former state treasurer; former state representative; attorney; although he publicly claimed not to be interested in a 2010 race, that may have been when he believed that Coop was going to run
• Mike McIntyre (of Lumberton) -- U.S. congressman; attorney
• Elaine Marshall (of Lillington) -- N.C. secretary of state; former state senator; attorney; teacher
  

Either post your comment here or email me at draftcoop@gmail.com to let us know what you think.

Say it ain't so, Coop

Coop sent an e-mail to supporters today:

"Dear Friends:
A few weeks after I took the oath of office for my
third term as Attorney General, many of you asked me to consider becoming a U.S.
Senator in 2010. Because this can be an important way to help the people
of North Carolina, my family and I considered it. While I am honored by
the encouragement I’ve received, I don’t want to go to Washington and serve as a
U.S. Senator at this time. I am committed to public service and I want to
serve here in North Carolina rather than in Washington.

Right now, I’m moving forward with ways to make the lives of North Carolinians better and safer, even during these challenging times. We’re pushing for new laws and helping people struggling with bad loans, debt and foreclosure. At my request, the Governor just signed an executive order this week to begin “StreetSafe”, a
project that will reduce the number of repeat offenders and cut the crime rate
by coordinating nonprofits, businesses, faith-based initiatives, and government
to rehabilitate people who have committed crimes.
I am taking action right here in North Carolina to boost our economy, bolster education, improve our health care and make us more secure. I will continue to need your ideas and help. I am grateful for your encouragement and support."

What do we do now?????

Update -- Not long until we know?

All the latest signs on the 2010 Senate race have been positive since my last post.

First, there was Coop himself telling a reporter that he would decide whether or not to run "very soon." I know, that's frustratingly vague, but he sounds very serious about the prospect. In a related story, Chris Cillizza, relying on unnamed "sources," said that Coop would decide "by the end of the month" -- there are only 13 days left in April!

Second, another poll confirmed Coop has a small lead in the polls over the incumbent, while other Democrats don't fare as well. The closeness of the race reminds us that, as a new analysis confirms, Senate races in this state are very competitive.

Third, the incumbent isn't helping himself with comments like these.

Also, many thanks to Senate Guru for taking up our cause many different places online, including Blue NC and Daily Kos.

The Coop momentum continues!

Good work, Coop

You don't immediately think of health care -- one of America's most pressing concerns -- when you think of the state attorney general's responsibilities. But our man Coop is taking action, working in concert with the NC Association of Free Clinics. Check out the coverage in:
Charlotte Observer
WCNC (NBC affiliate in Charlotte)

It all boils down to Coop, the clinics, and some businesses working together to provide prescription medicines to the uninsured. And it doesn't cost the taxpayers at all. It is funded by $2.3 million in grants from the state's share of legal settlements that involved pharmaceutical companies. This couldn't come at a more appropriate time, since we recently learned that "the ranks of the uninsured have grown more in North Carolina than in any other state since the start of the economic downturn."

See, this is why we need Roy Cooper in the Senate. The man gets stuff done, works well with others, and solves problems, while looking out both for the taxpayers and for our neighbors in need.

Momentum

...is building in Roy Cooper's favor this week. He's been all over the news, as Under the Dome notes, while asking "is it his moment to announce a run for U.S. Senate in 2010?"

At the same time, another poll confirms that Cooper is the Democrat best positioned to run (Coop narrowly leads the incumbent 41-38), leading The Hill to call the race "tough" for the incumbent. The incumbent, for his part, has officially launched his re-election campaign online. He better get ready.

Here's an idea

Since we now know that political consultant Morgan Jackson is advising Coop on the 2010 race (he spoke on his behalf to a reporter about the matter), maybe we should send Mr. Jackson a note. The e-mail address for his company, Nexus Strategies, is:
info@nexusstrategies.com

If you're reading this blog and you agree that Coop ought to run in 2010, tell Mr. Jackson that you've been keeping up with the Draft Coop online movement. Tell him that you wish the attorney general well, and ask Mr. Jackson to pass along your encouragement to run. Will it do any good? Well, it can't hurt. It's just a way to tell Coop that there is a groundswell of North Carolinians out there hoping he runs.

More reporting on 2010 race

Heath Shuler's exit from the 2010 Senate race has caused reporters to focus again on who the Democratic candidate(s) might be:

• CQ Politics says "Shuler clears the way for North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, if he decides to run. Like Shuler, Cooper has strong cross-over appeal with Republican and independent voters and could campaign on conservative law-and-order issues thanks to his experience as the state’s top law enforcer."
• An AP reporter point-blank asked Coop and got a response through his political consultant, Morgan Jackson: "Attorney General Roy Cooper probably won't decide on a Senate run for a few more months. Jackson said the state's top prosecutor has been asked to consider other ways of serving 'but its too early for him to make such a decision.'" Meanwhile, neither Elaine Marshall nor Richard Moore ruled out running, although Moore's statement doesn't sound that much different from his previous statement that he would not run.

Breaking news: Shuler won't run in 2010

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler has announced he will not run for U.S. Senate in 2010. Shuler could have been a good candidate, but not as good as our man Coop would be. Shuler has irritated some of the more liberal/progressive members of the Democratic family with his positions, so it might be tough for him to win a contested primary. One wonders if he suspects that Coop will run.

General Cooper, with Shuler, Brad Miller, and Richard Moore out, the ball is in your court. A state turns its eyes to you! I know, you're busy doing your job, making headway with the EPA, and advocating against the feds superseding state consumer protection laws. But if you've got a minute, think some more about running to represent us in the Senate, won't you?????

Coop news round-up

First, good news for Coop if he does run for Senate: he likely won't have a formidable opponent in the form of former state Treasurer Richard Moore:

"Senate run not in plans, Moore says" (Hat tip: Senate Guru)

Second, Public Policy Polling shows that Sen. Richard Burr is vulnerable in 2010...but as far as I know, the only person that PPP has polled actually leading Burr is, you guessed it, Coop. See also this post on the PPP blog, which says "...generally speaking, you want to get your most well known and popular possible candidate into the race ....There's no doubt for Democrats in North Carolina that person is Roy Cooper, who already has 44% positive name recognition. If he doesn't run the party will still more than likely have a strong contender- but if you can get your best prospect, why bother with anyone else?" Couldn't have said it better ourselves.

Third, Coop is hard at work, including visiting Pope Air Force Base to talk about scams targeting members of our military. This experience will serve him well one day when he serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee!

Coop FINALLY talks about considering Senate run

For what is most likely the first time, our man Roy Cooper acknowledges that he is considering a Senate campaign in 2010:

"A lot of people have contacted me about it, people that I respect and so I've told them I would give them the courtesy to look at it," Cooper said. "I like my job as Attorney General. I am making a difference. I've had a lot of people to ask me about it. So, I'm going to look at it but make a decision very soon."

Hat tip: Senate Guru

So what do you think, Draft Coop fans? Do you think he's decided to take the plunge? Come on, Coop, you know you want to! And how soon is "very soon"?

Meanwhile, our draft effort has allies on Facebook. Check it out:
Draft Roy Cooper for U.S. Senate in 2010

Coop at work, and Coop on TV

Two items today:

• Coop's Justice Department is investigating bonuses for Merrill Lynch & Co. employees, potentially raising the AG's national profile and protecting all Americans by finding out if laws were broken.
• Triangle TV viewers can see Coop on WRAL-TV's "Headline Saturday," on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 7:00 p.m. I'll post link to video if and when it is available.

Polls and a Rating

Catching up on political news:

• Poll has Richard Burr leading Heath Shuler 39-28.
• A different poll shows that Coop is more well-known to voters than Shuler is. Both Coop and Shuler have unfavorable ratings of only 2 percent!
• Stu Rothenberg rates the 2010 NC Senate race as "Narrow Advantage for Incumbent Party," the next most competitive rating after "Toss-Up."

Coop beats TVA in federal court

N&O: Court orders TVA cleanup

"I am pleased that the court ordered TVA to clean up the air pollution coming from its plants closest to North Carolina," Attorney General Roy Cooper said in an interview. "This will help our air, our health and our travel and tourism economy. All of our evidence showed that these four plants were doing the greatest damage to North Carolina."

Congrats to our AG on this environmental victory!

New Poll Shows Close Race

A new Research 2000 poll shows Coop and incumbent Burr within the margin of error: Burr 45%, Coop 43%. For the incumbent, this should be mighty troubling.

Also, the Daily Kos calls Coop "the [Democrats'] consensus top choice for the race."

Pre-Inauguration Day news round-up

Tomorrow (Jan. 10), Coop will take the oath of office as Attorney General for the third time. Congratulations, Coop!

Meanwhile, he has just continued to work:

• NC Attorney General recovers $52 million in Medicaid fraud settlements
• Attorneys General wants bankruptcy judges to have more power
• Peak Fitness settles over N.C. complaints