People who have worked closely with Erskine Bowles will tell you he never really wanted to go into politics, let alone run for U.S. Senate. But with a father like his, it seemed inevitable.
Hargrove "Skipper" Bowles was a prominent local politician in his lifetime. He served in the N.C. General Assembly and earned the Democratic nomination for governor in 1972.
One of Bowles' first experiences in politics was as a fund-raiser for his father's unsuccessful bid for governor.
"He admired his father very much," said D.G. Martin, who recruited Bowles to raise money for his unsuccessful campaign for Congress. "I think Erskine, gosh, he had tremendous devotion to his father who, like Erskine, was a successful businessman who felt the call for political service.
"In many respects, he has modeled his life after his father."
In the 1980s, before he served as deputy and chief of staff in President Clinton's White House, Bowles helped Martin raise money for his congressional campaign.
"Erskine agreed to be my finance chairman," Martin said. "His energy, his enthusiasm ... and his contacts made it possible to raise almost as much money as the incumbent."
Although Martin lost the election, Erskine's work caught the attention of other budding politicians, including Clinton.
The job plan Bowles has presented focuses on job training and research, building small businesses and balancing the state's budget - something Bowles' r
