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Burr, Hagan promise to work for N.C.
Party politics to take a back seat, they say; analysts say they'll be watching
Sen.-elect Kay Hagan gained national attention — and political standing — with her defeat of incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Dole. Sen. Richard Burr is aware that he will be a target of the Democratic Party when he runs for re-election.
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Published: November 10, 2008
Richard Burr and Kay Hagan have pledged to place North Carolina interests over party politics in the U.S. Senate.
But political analysts said last week that they will watch closely to see how well Burr, a first-term Republican, and Hagan, a newly elected Democrat, are able to keep those commitments.
Especially given that millions of dollars in outside Democratic money played a pivotal role in Hagan's successful advertising campaign against incumbent Elizabeth Dole.
It's likely that money from those same sources, particularly the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, will target Burr's re-election bid in 2010.
"We know there will be instances where the interest of North Carolina will be at variance with the interest of the Democratic leadership in the U.S. Senate on key votes," said John Dinan, an associate professor of political science at Wake Forest University. "John Edwards faced that test numerous times in his term. Kay Hagan will as well as a first-term senator.
"The difference is that Edwards had a third variable in play in his votes -- a track record that could be measured in terms of his pursuit of the Democratic presidential nomination," Dinan said. "Hagan will be free from that kind of pressure."
Hagan said Thursday that she expressed her desire to work closely with Burr before her stunning victory over Dole. She said she reinforced that position in a post-election conversation with Burr. "We had an informative talk, and he said he would be glad to help me with any transition questions I had," Hagan said.
Burr said Thursday that he feels confident he and Hagan "will work well together" on North Carolina issues. "The North Carolina delegation has never failed to come together on North Carolina issues," he said. "I don't believe that will change even though there will be ideological issues where we won't align."
Hagan said she will focus her attention on the economy, including adding and protecting jobs in North Carolina, the portability and accessibility of health care, and the war in Iraq as she gets established in the Senate.
"I want to have a well-run and responsive office to constituents," Hagan said.
Perhaps the first test of cooperation between the senators will come with the next push toward Food and Drug Administration regulation of the tobacco industry, likely in early 2009. President-elect Barack Obama was a co-sponsor of the U.S. Senate's version of the legislation.
Burr has been an outspoken backer of the industry, even threatening to hold a filibuster against any Senate vote supporting regulation. The position is understandable given that Reynolds American Inc. is based in his hometown of Winston-Salem.
Burr said he supports the inclusion of smokeless products as a less-hazardous alternative to cigarettes in any FDA regulation -- a position similar to Reynolds'.
"I don't know what the process will look like in 2009," Burr said. "Some are hoping to jam the tobacco industry with the regulation rather than show interest in less-hazardous products than cigarettes."
Hagan opposes FDA regulation of the tobacco industry, said Colleen Flanagan, a spokeswoman for the senator-elect. Lorillard Tobacco Co. is based in her hometown of Greensboro.
Political analysts said that because FDA regulation is likely to have more support with a stronger Democratic grip on Congress in 2009, Hagan is expected to be able to oppose regulation without it hurting her position within the party.
Dinan said he believes that Hagan may not feel as much pressure to rubber-stamp the Democratic senatorial agenda as other newly elected leaders might.
"The party certainly should be thanking her for winning what some considered an untouchable seat," Dinan said. "The party likely will put her in a committee seat or two that's beneficial to North Carolina."
Burr said he realizes he will be a major target of a national Democratic Party emboldened by its defeat of Dole.
Although officials from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee could not be reached for comment, the day after Hagan's win it had a "next race" message attached to Burr's face.
"Certainly, I'm in the center point of the bull's eye for the Democratic Party given the outcome of Tuesday's election," Burr said. "That's not based on my job performance by any means, but because I am a Republican.
"I've never worried about the next election, because I feel confident in my job performance, and I feel confident that my job performance is recognized in North Carolina."
Dinan said that though the Democratic Party will target Burr, he hasn't shown any signs of vulnerability as compared with Dole. He expects that state Democrats will find it tough to find a high-profile candidate to run against Burr.
"In 2010, we're talking about a nonpresidential election, which tends to bring out a different voter," Dinan said. "You won't have the push of the Obama campaign backing the Democratic candidate."
Hagan said she knows she can't support the Triad at the expense of statewide interests.
"I know I've got to spend a lot more time in the east and the west," Hagan said. "I want them to know they've got representation in the U.S. Senate."
Still, analysts, as well as local elected officials, say they believe that having two U.S. senators from the Triad could be beneficial to the region.
For example, Burr played a pivotal role in a portion of the Armed Forces Institute for Regenerative Medicine being based in the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Piedmont Triad Research Park. The grant for the project is worth $45.5 million over five years.
"If earmarks are continued, the Triad might smile," said Allan Louden, an associate professor of communication at Wake Forest.
Burr said that he and Hagan understand the economic pain that the Triad has endured through its transition from being dominated by furniture, textile and tobacco manufacturing to high-tech, life sciences, financial services and logistics and transportation.
"Not to take anything away from Research Triangle Park, but that area hasn't lived the decline of the 20th-century economy like the Triad has," Burr said. "Kay is sensitive to that change and I believe she will work hard to help North Carolina create and retain jobs in the global economy."
Allen Joines, the mayor of Winston-Salem, said he's realistic about how much assistance the Triad can expect to get from two local U.S. senators. "They both have spoken well of the Triad's strengths, and they both know where we are trying to go with the Triad's economy ...," Joines said.
■ Richard Craver can be reached at 727-7376 or at rcraver@wsjournal.com.
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