Candidates Campaign Grass Roots Style
Jeff Miller held a roundtable discussion with several interested voters.
This wasn't your typical campaign stop. Three of the men running for the Republican nomination as the 11th Congressional District candidate came together in one place Sunday, but instead of campaign speeches, it was the voters who got to say a few words.
"Why should I vote for you?" "If health care reform passes, what will you do to repeal it?" What can you do to control spending?" These were just some of the many questions voters put to Dan Eichenbaum, Jeff Miller and Kenny West during a candidates meet and greet held at the Grass Roots Cafe in Horse Shoe. The restaurant doors were thrown open to anyone who wanted to talk directly to the candidates. Restaurant owner Mike McLean said the event was a way for people to pose their own questions to the candidates and evaluate their responses.
"When you go to the debates and the other things, people don't get to meet the candidates one on one. We said, 'Why don't have a meet and greet?' We invited all six candidates and asked them to come out. We wanted people to be able to meet candidates and make up their own opinion and do it in a way that's different," McLean said.
The other candidates on the GOP side - Greg Newman, James Howard and Ed Krause - did not attend the event.
The meet and greet attracted several dozen interested voters, including Ann Booth, who said she is unhappy with Washington lawmakers. "I'm very interested in this election. However, I've not been political until about two or three years ago," she said. "I think we have some pretty good candidates. They speak from a constituent's point of view. They want to do what their constituents want them to do. The thing I like about all of them is they are businessmen. I'm not going to vote for another lawyer. What we need is a businessman's experience up there because of all the economic problems that we're facing and the actual world is facing."
Another voter, who didn't want to be identified, said he liked the format of being able to meet the candidates, ask a question and look them in the eye as they answered it. "I detest what's going on (in Washington)," he said. "It scares me to death, and I've never been scared of anything in my whole life. I'm really afraid for America right now."
Each of the candidates drew crowds of people around them as they took voter questions. Eichenbaum repeatedly pulled out a copy of the Constitution from his jacket pocket and said any vote he makes in Congress will be based upon whether it supports the Constitution. Asked about health care reform if it passes, Eichenbaum said he would vote to cut off the money supply that would support the initiative.
Miller drew a dozen people around a table where he was sitting, and he was asked right away why being the founder of HonorAir would make him a good congressman. Miller said his campaign is not about HonorAir, but he said his work to fly veterans to Washington shows his skill at building a team and accomplishing a goal.
West shared with voters his strong conservative values, such as controlling government spending and supporting the Second Amendment.
All six candidates will face off in the May 4 primary. U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler has his own Democratic challenger in the primary, Aixa Wilson.
Email
Print
Feed
Reader Comments:
Leigh did an outstanding job of "fair" reporting. This was unlike the reporter from the Citizen-Times that selectively reported information, as their article stated
"Western North Carolina GOP primary candidates berate health care reform at tea party event".
This was NOT a tea Party Event, but rather one by the Cafe that seeks to be there for the community interests, at a Grass Roots level. Those interests have Healthcare among them, but many other subjects were discussed.
Keep up the good work, Leigh!