The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 13

THF CHAKI OT'I I- ORSI RVi FROM PAGE ONE I mnY M'flM 2) 2IVM 13A In poll 64 of NC adults have favorable view of Dole to Two great American past times Shopping at BLACKLION Friday night football! Lake Norman Concord 704-895-9539 704-979-LION mfrmTrmvrmvmrim llBIACKLION wwwblacklioncom Charlotte 704-541-1148 mi Sizing Them Up In a telephone poll conducted Wednesday 421 NC adults were asked their opinions of possible candidates in the race for Sen WANTED that need PAINTING About the Poll KPC Research of Charlotte conducted 421 phone interviews with adults across North Carolina following Sen Jesse Helms' announcement that he run again The poll has a margin of error of 48 percentage points Results for subgroups such as men and women have a greater chance of error because results are based on fewer interviews iKi 3 Homeowners will be given an opportunity to have the iNew Alvis SPRAY ON SIDING applied to their home at special Discount prices No more costly repair bills or constant Painting costs Alvis Spray On Siding CAN EASILY be applied over any type surface Including wood stucco block or brick AMs Spray On Siding WILL NOT fade crack peel or chalk and carries a LIFETIME WARRANTY No money down and terms to fit your budget Why wait? ScnStGromlA Sj The poll was conducted by telephone Wednesday night after Helms announced he seek a sixth term While Helms has engendered both praise and vitriol for his legacy in the wake of his decisioa 57 percent of those interviewed believes he has had a positive impact on North Carolina think done a lot I think for the said Angie Lawson a 24-year-old stay-at-home mom in Forest City who was one of those polled Just 19 percent think Helms has had a negative impact since he was first elected in 1972 the poll shows while almost a quarter of the respondents said he was neither good nor bad for the state or answer But asked if they would vote for Helms or another candidate if he had run again next year 39 percent would have supported the senator Forty-one percent would have voted for someone else Fifteen percent sure Overall the poll of 421 NC residents has a margin of error of 48 percentage points been in there for years and done good for the said John Stone 55 of Rox-boro who receives disability But he still would have voted for another candidate if Helms had run again done his Stone said gotten old I just think time for some new Older people and longtime NC residents are staunchest supporters according to the poll think that he do a very good job for the black people" said Dallas Brown a 53-year-old substitute teacher in Henderson who thinks he hurt the state like the Among several potential candidates to succeed Helms Dole has the most name recognition and goodwill from voters 3' like the lady who might run Ms Stone said not a i libber or however you say it But not against a woman doing a job and she might do Sixty-four percent of those interviewed look at Dole favorably while just 8 percent have a negative opinion of her the poll FREE ESTIMATES Call Now (704) 845-6001 MATTRESS a FURNITURE wwwsprayonsidingcom Toll Free (800) 837-4934 $874 Mw mlrtoc headboard and steel bedframe while supplies last PRESIDENT'S DAY rn August TAX REBATE CHECKS HEREI Dole Erwin JACOB PIERCY-STAFF acceptable Republican to said Jean Lumsden 67 a retired nurse in Greensboro Of all the potential candidates Dole was the only one Lumsden had a favorable opinion of She disliked other Republicans and know the Democrats well enough to say Dole was a US Cabinet secretary in two Republican administrations and former head of the American Red Cross She increased her national profile in 1996 when her husband ran for president In 2000 she launched her own unsuccessful presidential bid Vinroot Faircloth trail Most other potential Senate candidates even those who hold state office begin to match that level of visibility even though Dole lived in North Carolina for decades Former Charlotte mayor and gubernatorial candidate Richard with former Sen Lauch Faircloth the race to succeed Helms North Carolina I of course will campaign hard for In addition to Vinroot and Dole former Sea Lauch Faircloth US Rep Richard Burr and Lexington lawyer Jim Snyder tire considering the race Democratic contenders include Marshall the NC secretary of state state Rep Dan Blue of Raleigh and Charlotte developer Mark Erwia a former ambassador to Mauritius an island nation in the Indian Oceaa Marshall mentioned Dole during remarks to a group of female executives in Charlotte not sure win her party Marshall said are some people who will Hopefuls for Senate seat Vinroot Burr Blue SOURCE KPC Research shows An additional 27 percent had not heard of her or had no opinion always encouraging to see positive poll said Kathleen Harrington spokeswoman certainly had encouragement from many Dole has not said whether run but she is changing her voter registration to North Carolina She currently lives in Washington DC and her voter registration is in Kansas home of former US Sea Bob Dole her husband Like Helms support is greater among older residents and those lived in the state the longest Women like her better than men 70 percent to 57 percent The poll shows that Dole might receive support from all quarters including some Democrats Dole is the one come closest to being an Sen Jesse Helms (left) is shown who is now considering entering been a registered voter in her hometown of Russell Kao a community of wheat and cattle farmers since 1976 As Dole moved closer to the race she got a boost from one top Republicaa Speaking at a school in Crawford Texas Thursday President Bush was asked whether he would support Dole Sidestepping an endorsement he said she make a fine competed against her once before and she was a formidable and fine lady no question about Bush said alluding to brief presidential campaiga she is the nominee of the Republican Party in Vinroot who officially joined the Senate race Thursday and former US Sea Lauch Faircloth (who was defeated in his re-election bid by John Edwards in 1998) have the next highest name recognition although only about 1 in 4 state residents view them favorably Twelve percent of those polled liked US Rep Richard Burr considered by many to be the leading Republican contender if Dole stays out of the race while 3 percent view him unfavorably The rest had no opinion or said they know him not anything there not expected at this point in time since our base is in the Triad area and not been a statewide candidate before" said Paul Shumaker a Burr consultant Less than 15 percent of those polled said heard of the potential Democratic candidates including Secretary of State Elaine Marshall the only Democrat who has officially entered the race Other potential Democratic contenders included in the poll: NC Rep Dan Blue of Raleigh and developer and former ambassador Mark Erwin of Charlotte Former Gov Jim Hunt was not included in the poll questions He has said repeatedly that he nrn although national media outlets continue to speculate that change his mind Marshall has won two statewide contests even beating NASCAR legend Richard Petty once But 87 percent of those polled said never heard of Marshall or had no opinion of her the poll shows not troubled by she said tells me that got a clean slate to write JIM MORRILL CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT Scott Dodd: (704) 358-5168 sdoddiaJcharlotteobservercom get busy resent the fact that she would just swoop in on a cloud of dust and take what many people have been toiling for years in the vineyards But Marshall said Dole could be her toughest opponent among the Republican contenders would pose a greater challenge for me in getting the she said intend on running a but there are just people out there who would vote for a woman If the choice were between two women it would be that much Erwin said Thursday he feels more with a potential candidacy He said announcement makes his candidacy more likely it makes a said Erwia would say it puts me in a more likely position than I was Erwin said he's about to launch a poll measuring the comparative of him and his potential rivals: female secretary of an American and a businessman (from the) Charlotte area a former ambassador (who) represented the country on the other side of the want to get in this thing unless I feel very strongly that I can win a he said Erwin was among several would-be candidates working the phones got a process of everybody trying to figure out where going to stand if they put their name on the said Paul Shumaker an adviser to Burr looking to gauge the level of support got amongst party activists and also potential financial STAFF WRITERS SCOTT DODD AND JEN PILLA CONTRIBUTED Jim Morrill' (704) 358-5059 imorrill mcharlotteobservercom GASH YOUR FEDERAL 4pc Bedroom Include: dresser ea pc sold in sets FREE LAYAWAY! 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Our Famous Posture Series Mattresses Brand New in Factory-Sealed Containers Sold in Sets 'Lryaunty Refers to Our Prue-Hold Policy H6lfflSrom 1A candidates burned phone lines Thursday sizing or shoring up support And Democrat Elaine Marshall the only other declared candidate touted her candidacy during an appearance in Charlotte Vinroot who has long considered running if Helms said he was ready to that be coy about it if interested in he said go ahead and do Vinroot said his timing had nothing to do with potential candidacy But he said Dole had called him Thursday morning indicating her interest in the race called her back as a courtesy and said was going to run and have filed papers and wanted you to know that because a good friend and will always be a good he recounted Dole who helped Vinroot retire debt from his unsuccessful bid for governor last year could not be reached She spent the day at her childhood home in Salisbury declining to come to the door when a reporter knocked Aides said she was making campaign calls and visiting with her 100-year-old mother definitely still in the process of deciding what to do but I do know seriously considering said Margaret Kluttz a close friend who worked on short-lived presidential campaiga Kluttz said been fielding calls from people across the state who are waiting for Dole to announce her candidacy Ronnie Smith another Salisbury friend said a tremendous amount of enthusiasm around here that she Though Dole has lived in Washingtoa DC for years.