Roll Call reports that Congressman Brad Miller has decided to stay in the House, rather than seek the Senate seat of Elizabeth Dole:
Rep. Brad Miller (D) said Monday that he will not challenge Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R) in 2008, as Democrats go back to the drawing board to see if they can recruit a top-tier challenger in the Tar Heel State.
“Obviously, a big part of me wanted to run for the Senate ... but I like what I’m doing in the House right now,” Miller told The Associated Press.
Miller had been mentioned as a potential candidate and had confirmed earlier this year that he was contemplating a Senate bid. He met with Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.) earlier this month.
Democrats believe Dole is potentially vulnerable, however, they have not been able to find a top-flight candidate for the race. Several well-known statewide elected officials are passing on the race.
Miller was elected in 2002 to a Raleigh-based seat that he helped to draw as a member of the state Senate during the post-2000 reapportionment and redistricting.
While 2008 shapes up as a very challenging year for Senate Republicans because of the great number of seats they must defend, Democrats have a mixed record so far on recruiting strong challengers. In Oregon, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Texas, Democrats have either lost out on top-tier challengers, or failed (so far) to get their desired candidate into the race.
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