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Election 2008
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Wednesday, May 07, 2008, 11:23 AM
Jones turns back GOP challenger From staff and wire reports Two Republicans representing Wilson County in Congress easily turned back primary opponents Tuesday. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, U.S. Rep. Walter Jones had 60 percent of the vote in the 3rd Congressional District. Challenger Joe McLaughlin, a former Onslow County commissioner, lost 14 out of 17 counties, including Wilson. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole received nearly 90 percent of the vote against a little-known challenger, Pete Di Lauro. Both Jones and Dole did slightly better in Wilson County than they did overall. Jones had 62 percent here, Dole 93 percent. Jones, a seven-term congressman, told the Associated Press that he ran a positive campaign focused on his record. "I think I know this district and the people have spoken," he said in a phone interview from his home in Farmville. Jones, who has taken an increasing stand against the war, said his primary win shows that Republicans in his district support a new plan in Iraq. "I think more and more Republicans are starting to understand after five years that the Iraqis need to step up and take responsibility," Jones said. "The most important thing in politics is name recognition and money, and he had both of those," Raymond said. Jones will face Democrat Craig Weber in November, a rematch of the 2006 general election. Weber, a TV broadcaster and meteorologist, received almost 70 percent of the vote in Tuesday's Democratic primary. Incumbents Republican Reps. Sue Myrick of Charlotte, Patrick McHenry of Cherryville, along with Democratic Rep. Brad Miller of Raleigh, also advanced to November by wide margins. Asheville City Councilman Carl Mumpower won a race between three Republicans in the 11th District, and will face Rep. Heath Shuler as the GOP tries to unseat the only freshman in the state's delegation to the U.S. House. Mumpower narrowly defeated former Henderson County GOP chairman Spence Campbell, 48 percent to 42 percent with all precincts reporting. Highlands attorney John Armor had 10 percent. A moderate who defends gun rights and opposes abortion, Shuler has been careful not to upset conservative voters in his district. He has broken with his party on several occasions, including last month when he voted against a Democratic budget that he didn't think did enough to protect tax cuts targeted to the middle class.
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