60-40 VISION FILES

Poll: N.C. not enamored of Edwards (JOHN WAGNER, 5/24/03, News & Observer)

If the 2004 election were today, President Bush would prevail over Edwards in his own state, 57 percent to 39 percent, according to a new poll commissioned by The News & Observer. The margin is virtually unchanged since January, when Edwards announced his intention to seek the White House.

Five months into the race, more North Carolinians still disapprove of Edwards' running for president than those who favor his bid. The latest poll, conducted Sunday through Wednesday, found 51 percent disapprove while 45 percent approve.

"He's just not doing anything to make North Carolinians fall in love with him at this point,'' said Del Ali, president of Research 2000 of Rockville, Md., which conducted the poll for The N&O.

The poll also found that support for Edwards' Senate re-election has slipped in recent months. Edwards has not said what he plans to do about his Senate seat, which is on the ballot in 2004. But if he were to run, the poll found that 32 percent would vote to re-elect Edwards, while 33 percent would consider voting for another candidate and 35 percent plan to vote to replace him.

The percentage who would vote to re-elect Edwards has dropped 7 points since January, while the percentage of those who would consider voting for another candidate has jumped 8 points in the same period. The percentage who plan to replace him also has climbed by 3 points.

In a hypothetical matchup with U.S. Rep. Richard Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican seeking the GOP's Senate nomination, Edwards would prevail, however, 47 percent to 36 percent, according to the poll. Seventeen percent remain undecided.

Burr said he was "delighted'' with the numbers, given how much better known Edwards is across North Carolina right now.

"Anytime you see the incumbent below 50 percent, you know there's a vulnerability,'' said Burr, whose candidacy is being pushed by the White House.

It's a new concept: Mr. Edwards is running as a least-favorite son.

MORE:
Hollings plans to run again (RAJU CHEBIUM, May 23, 2003, GANNETT NEWS SERVICE)

Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings said Friday he plans to seek a seventh term in November 2004 but acknowledged that his wife isn't too keen on the idea.

"I'd like to beat the hell out of the Republicans," the South Carolina Democrat said in an interview with Gannett News Service. "Right now, I'm scheduled to (run). But my wife - I've got some personal considerations. After seven races, come on. She doesn't want to go for an eighth time right this minute. We're arguing about it. We'll see what happens."

Hollings, 81, was South Carolina governor from 1958-1962 and has been U.S. Senator since 1967. He also served in the state House.

Earlier this week, he gave the go-ahead to the state Democratic Party to look for other candidates, fueling speculation that he's getting ready to retire. Rep. Jim DeMint, R-Greenville, has said he will seek the Republican nomination for the Senate.

One of the problems for Mr. Hollings is the example of Strom Thurmond, who, no matter how beloved, was an embarrassment by the end of his too-long career in the Senate. Posted by Orrin Judd at May 24, 2003 12:42 PM