My fellow North Carolinians. There have been any number of people over the past months who have suggested I pick up the flag and run for the US Senate against Elizabeth Dole next year. OK, maybe there was just one person who suggested that. All right, maybe I just thought I heard someone suggest it after I’d had a few beers at our Labor Day cookout.
In any event, I’ve decided – like Forsyth County Commissioner Ted Kaplan – that taking the job on Capitol Hill would mean too much time away from my family. Including my one-year-old, who still sometimes wakes up at four in the morning. And who would take out the trash, the recycling, clean the dishes and take the cars by the shop I ask you?
There may be some who say, “Don’t be hasty – why not go through a ‘deliberative process’ about your run like State Board of Education Chair Howard Lee?” To them I can only reply with my customary decisive leadership, “No.”
To all my many supporters, both real and imaginary, I must also sadly point to a distressing fact. I am not a multimillionaire. Having more cash than one of those hedge fund guys is practically a job requirement in the US Senate these days and I just don’t measure up. After all, Dole is the 14th richest in the chamber and has the unique perspective that only such enormous amounts of wealth can bring.
Don’t despair. I’m sure someone will take her on. Thanks for thinking of me though.
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