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U.S. SENATE RACE 2004 - NORTH CAROLINA

Burr and Bowles on Jobs

The following table outlines each candidate's specific position on the issues of outsourcing of North Carolina jobs and free trade. It provides preliminary insight into the strategic position and type of representation taken by each candidate and the quality of their representation. Pitkin's substantive representation best fits this issue; with nearly 80,000 North Carolinians having been effected by job losses, many voters feel passionate about their stance on free trade and job creation and will choose the candidate who best represents their opinion. (213)

  Richard Burr Erskine Bowles
Position
  • reduce government bureaucracy to reduce tax burdens on individuals and businesses
  • "[NAFTA] may have been beneficial to the whole country, it may not have been so beneficial to North Carolina." (Ward 2)
  • voted for FTAs with Vietnam, Singapore and China and for fast-tracking FTAs but,
  • has been vocal about opposition to FTAs with China: "I didn't think we could trust them...I was right." (Burr 1)
  • stop new FTAs until illegal imports are stopped
  • enforcing fair FTAs should be the priority of free trade
  • tax incentives should be restructured to keep jobs in North Carolina
  • "putting people back to work is our first priority" (Bowles Ad )
Type of Representation and Constituency

As a Republican, Burr generally represents the business owners who have lost their employment to low wages overseas. However, his "Standing Up to China" TV ad places him in a factory, where a worker asks him to keep fighting against China to keep jobs in North Carolina. He replies, "You bet!" Burr is working to identify with the middle class worker and unemployed constituency to augment his support from the business owners.

Bowles has focused on appealing as a "centrist, common-sense problem solver who largely eschews partisan labels." (Babington 1) His "Jobs Plan" provides a traditional Democratic stance on job creation, appealing to middle-class workers, specifically the unemployed. Bowles' stance appeals to those who consider partisan politics secondary to substantive plans for remedying job loss.
Representation Quality Burr has done an impressive job creating a variety of supporting constituencies on jobs. The American Medical Association PAC recently released a TV ad stating that Burr will make "creating jobs his number one priority." (National Journal) His tax-laden and China-focused rhetoric appeal to those who have followed globalization and embrace moderate restraint on free market strategies for North Carolina. Bowles' comprehensive, budgeted outline for creating jobs and restoring fiscal discipline in Washington and his protectionist trade strategies successfully represent North Carolinians who believe foreign interests should not have a significant role in their job futures. Whether this percentage of North Carolinians is enough to tip the scales in Bowles' favor will be determined on November 2.

Bibliography

Bowles on Jobs

Burr on Jobs

Correspondence to: Charles Wood

Created: 14 October 2004