Senate hopeful Elaine Marshall visits UNC, wants to be voice of the people

In the most challenging of times, the voices of everyday North Carolinians have been missing, U.S. Senate hopeful Elaine Marshall said Monday night.

In a talk hosted by the UNC Young Democrats, Marshall — who is running for the seat held by Republican Richard Burr — highlighted her experience helping common folks as N.C. Secretary of State.

 “I want to be the voice of those people, the lives that will be affected by Washington’s laws,” she said.

Marshall made her priorities clear — financial reform and unemployment, both of which she said she has experience with as secretary of state.

Thomas Mills, a consultant to Marshall’s campaign, said her emphasis on financial regulation makes her campaign the most relevant to North Carolinians.

Marshall also said she supports the Senate’s plan for health care reform to bring costs down and get more people insured.

“The rest of the world looks at us and says, ‘Why haven’t you got this figured out?’” she said. “But the health insurance industry, who basically owns Burr, is saying ‘No.’”

Current polls show that the Democratic ticket for the Senate seat is wide open. Filing for candidacy opened last week.

Other potential Democratic candidates include former state senator Cal Cunningham and Durham attorney Kenneth Lewis.

Many of the 20 or 30 students who attended the talk said they weren’t aware of Marshall’s campaign in particular but were impressed by her appearance Monday night.

“I don’t really have a knowledge of any of the candidates,” said Travis Hairfield, a freshman chemistry major. “But I was really pleased with her knowledge of financial reform.”

Kate Taylor, a UNC alumna who graduated in December, said that she started working for Marshall’s campaign because of its message.

“I like Elaine a lot; she really has the experience and the personality for the job,” she said.

“Her stances on financial reform are hugely important but don’t resonate as much with young people.”

Marshall fielded questions on issues ranging from health care reform to the war in Afghanistan to education policy.

“We are today in the worst recession you or your parents has ever seen,” she said. “I’m going to get up every day and say, ‘What can I do to make it better for these folks?”

Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.