Grier Martin for US Senate

This is a reprise of a post I wrote on June 26th. The only thing that's changed since then is that my enthusiasm for Grier Martin continues to grow.

According to the Dome, Grier is taking a good hard look at jumping into this race. I encourage you to help him "look" by sending him words of encouragement and support. The time is right for Grier Martin to move boldly to challenge a woman many consider to be the worst North Carolina Senator in modern times.

______________________________________

I'm often amazed at the speed with which the world can change. One minute I'm biting my nails, wondering if one of the most capable representatives in Congress (Brad miller) will leave the House and run for Senate. And in the blink of an eye, I'm writing a post declaring my unqualified and passionate enthusiasm for a different person, a man I am asking to take the plunge: Representative Grier Martin.

I first got to know Grier on March 3, in a live-blogging session that started this way:

It's been a busy BlueNC week. We closed out February with the first-ever Women on Wednesdays, and a record 13,008 unique visitors for the shortest month of the year. We got the scoop on "new rules" for the NC House, and today we have a second-term representative, Grier Martin, stopping by to answer your questions. He's a primary sponsor on the Renewable Portfolio Standards bill, and is intensely interested in veterans affairs and family issues.

Two of Grier's key issues, veterans affairs and energy, are what really got me interested in him. And the more I learned about the way he thinks and the positions he takes, the more I came to admire and respect him. Especially with regard to veterans issues. Grier is a major in the Army Reserves and has served in Afghanistan. The Republican War in Iraq is something he takes very personally - and it is an issue about which he speaks with quiet authority. It is also the issue on which Liddy Dole is supremely vulnerable.

I suspect Grier's world took a right turn yesterday when Brad Miller said he's staying in the House. I suspect Grier will want to check in with all the power brokers in the state and in DC to find out if they will back him against Dole. I suspect he'll also have to convince himself and his wonderful wife that they can navigate the minefield of national politics and still have a workable family life.

But more important, I suspect Grier knows he has an enormous amount to offer his state and his country, and that he can do that more powerfully from the US Senate than from the North Carolina House, where he now serves.

If I knew how to make a website called Grier Martin for Senate, I'd have done it already. But since I'm basically a Luddite, I simply offer this promise: Grier Martin can beat Liddy Dole. If he can find it in his heart to run, I will move mountains and molehills and money and more to support him every hour and every day on that long and exciting journey.

Contact Grier through his House campaign website. And please post what you said here to inspire and encourage others to do the same.