McIntyre Out of North Carolina Senate Race
North Carolina Rep. Mike McIntyre won’t be taking on Republican incumbent Richard Burr in the state’s 2010 Senate race.
The seven-term Democrat published a statement on his campaign Web site Monday announcing that he will seek re-election to the House. “I deeply appreciate the confidence and encouragement from many who have asked me to consider the U.S. Senate race,” he wrote. But, “With the leadership positions I currently hold in the U.S. House, there is a greater opportunity to capitalize on these to benefit our constituents and the citizens of North Carolina.”
McIntyre is a Democratic whip and a member of the Majority Leader’s Advisory Council.
With McIntyre’s decision, Democrats continue to struggle to recruit a top-tier challenger to Burr, despite Democratic gains in the state in past two election cycles and polls showing Burr vulnerable. Attorney General Roy Cooper and North Carolina Reps. Heath Shuler, Brad Miller and Bob Etheridge have all rejected overtures to run.
