WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The North Carolina Senate race heated up Thursday as the GOP accused Democrat Senate candidate Erskine Bowles of avoiding his party's presidential nominee.
Bowles, former President Clinton's chief of staff, "has made a habit of refusing to publicly appear with John Kerry and John Edwards, usually by having an event somewhere far away," said a spokesman for GOP Senate candidate Richard Burr. While Kerry campaigned in North Carolina Tuesday, Bowles was raising funds in Washington.
The Bowles campaign told UPI the charge was "ludicrous" and he was merely doing what must be done to be elected.
"The Democrats deserve their own gold medal for hypocrisy," Burr spokesman Doug Heye said. "Erskine Bowles usually claims he is 'putting North Carolina first' when he ducks Kerry and Edwards, but this time, he left North Carolina behind. The Democrats apparently think it's perfectly fine to raise PAC money, so long as you're a liberal Democrat scared to be seen in public with John Kerry."
Bowles Campaign Communications Director Susan Lagana said he appeared with Kerry and Edwards when they first came to North Carolina, but has since been, "running very hard and has had a very busy schedule."
