Burr polishes a conservative image

RALEIGH NEWS AND OBSERVER
Editor’s note: This is the first of a series of stories on the candidates for U.S. Senate from North Carolina. On Wednesday, read about Democratic candidate Elaine Marshall’s record as secretary of state. Next week, read profiles of Burr, Marshall and Libertarian candidate Michael Beitler.

WASHINGTON — In U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, North Carolinians have a lawmaker who looks the part of a moderate businessman, works like a policy wonk and votes sharply conservative.

“No one can get to the right of me,” Burr told reporters when he announced his re-election campaign.

Poll: Burr solidifying lead in Senate race

Raleigh, N.C. — U.S. Sen. Richard Burr continues to widen his lead over Democrat Elaine Marshall in his bid for re-election, according to a WRAL News Poll released Tuesday.

SurveyUSA polled 582 likely voters statewide Friday through Monday and found that, if the election were held now, Burr would garner 58 percent of the vote to Marshall’s 34 percent. Only 2 percent of respondents were undecided.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

Two months ago, Burr held a 46 to 36 percent lead in a similar poll.

Foxx, Burr Score High on Pro-Growth Scorecard

Miller gets lowest ranking in the N.C. delegation

By David N. Bass
May 17, 2010

RALEIGH — A Washington-based group advocating limited government has ranked North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx and Sen. Richard Burr, both Republicans, in its top tier of fiscally conservative lawmakers in 2009.

The Club for Growth’s latest congressional scorecard, released Monday, gave perfect marks to nine representatives and six senators on issues such as tax reform, free trade, and deregulation. Foxx garnered 100 percent on the report and Burr 96 percent.

Burr launches first TV ad

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr has launched the first ad in his re-election bid.

The Winston-Salem Republican announced Monday that he has more than $5 million in his campaign account. His first television ad introduces people who say Burr has helped them as a Senator.

Read more: http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/burr_launches_first_tv_ad#ixzz0kXASm2Ep

Burr announces he’ll vote against Sotomayor

Burr announces he’ll vote against Sotomayor

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr will oppose Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination for the U.S. Supreme Court, saying that he admires her qualifications but that he fears she would impose her personal beliefs in setting legal precedent.
“My fear is that she has been unable to separate her personal belief system from that of the letter of the law,” Burr said in a prepared statement.

Sotomayor, who would be the first Hispanic member on the court, has been widely criticized by Republicans for a speech in which she said “a wise Latina” might sometimes make better decisions than a white male.

On Sotomayor, Hagan is a yea; Burr is a maybe

U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan will support Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, but U.S. Sen. Richard Burr isn’t ready to commit.
Sotomayor spent last week answering questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee about her record. The committee will begin debate today on whether to recommend her. The full Senate, including Hagan and Burr, would then cast the final vote on her confirmation.

Shuler will not take on Burr

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler has shot down a U.S. Senate bid. Speaking at a groundbreaking in Asheville, the Waynesville Democrat said he would not run against U.S. Sen. Richard Burr in 2010, according to the Hendersonville Times-News:

“I am not running for Senate,” the second-term Democrat said after a groundbreaking ceremony for a new building at the Bent Creek Experimental Forest Station in Asheville. “I am not running for Senate. I am not running for Senate. I have said that a thousand times, and I don’t know why they keep coming up [with the idea]. Of course they keep coming up and running polls.”

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1561276.html

Burr, Hagan oppose tobacco bill

WASHINGTON — U.S. senators began debate Tuesday on legislation that would allow the Food and Drug Administration to regulate cigarettes, an idea that has the strong backing of public health advocates across the country.

Standing in their way were the two senators from North Carolina. Republican Richard Burr and Democrat Kay Hagan teamed up for the first significant issue in their short time together in the Senate, offering arguments to weaken the effects of a popular bill that, they fear, could decimate a historic industry in their state.

North Carolina is the nation’s top producer of tobacco, growing $686 million worth of leaf last year on 12,000 farms. The state’s tobacco manufacturers, from the behemoth R.J. Reynolds to boutique companies, put 10,000 people to work.

http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1534714.html

Abortion bill veto costs Obama nominee a vote

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr will oppose Kathleen Sebelius’ nomination.

The Winston-Salem Republican said Monday that he cannot support the Kansas governor’s nomination as secretary of Health and Human Services because of her recent veto of an abortion bill.

On Thursday, Sebelius vetoed a bill that would have amended Kansas law on late-term abortions, questioning whether it was constitutional and suggesting that it would lead to intimidation of doctors.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1503877.html

Senator Burr Launches New Website for Re-election

From Senator Richard Burr…

Brooke and I wanted to let you know that my campaign has a new website which I hope you will visit soon. Through this website you will be able to read recent news articles about what I am doing in the U.S. Senate, stay up-to-date with my campaign activities and learn about ways you can volunteer for my 2010 re-election effort.

The new site, www.burrforsenate.com, will be a great place for you to stay connected to me and my campaign. From my site you can link to my Facebook page and other social networking sites. Tell your friends about the new site so they can sign up to receive campaign e-mail updates such as this one. There is even a link where you can let me know if you are wiling to volunteer on my re-election campaign.

Check out my new site today. Just go to www.burrforsenate.com. Let me know what you think.

Thanks for your support.

Richard Burr