29 Days: Elizabeth Dole, the consummate Washington insider

DAY 29

Elizabeth Dole, the consummate Washington insider, will hold a fundraiser today in the Watergate Hotel, her home since 1975. In 2002, Dole won her Senate seat with help from Karl Rove and George Bush, but despite experience working in 6 administrations, Dole has failed to bring results home for North Carolinians. Maybe she just isn’t sure what North Carolinians need. After all, she only registered to vote in North Carolina just two days after Jesse Helms announced his retirement, after being gone from the state for 50 years, and in 2006 Dole spent just 13 days in the state. Too much time in Washington with her special interest friends has kept Elizabeth Dole out of touch.

DOLE HAS BEEN A WASHINGTON INSIDER FOR OVER 4 DECADES

Dole Moved to Washington D.C. in 1965. After graduating from law school in 1965, Dole moved to Washington D.C. [Charlotte Observer, 10/14/02; Washington Times Web Site, accessed 6/23/08]

The Doles Have Lived in the Watergate Building Since 1975. [Washington Post, 3/22/03]

Dole Has Worked In Washington For 43 Years Under Six Presidents. In 1965, Elizabeth Dole moved to Washington D.C. after graduating from law school. During her 43 years in Washington, Dole worked under six presidents, including Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush. [Charlotte Observer, 10/14/02; Houston Chronicle, 10/29/96]

Charlotte Observer: Dole “Lived Out Of State Almost All Of Her Adult Life.” The Charlotte Observer reported that Dole “has lived out of state almost all of her adult life.” [Charlotte Observer, 8/29/08]

Bob Dole Votes In Kansas; “Both Doles Spend Much Of Their Time In Washington.” The Fayetteville Observer reported that Bob “Dole remained an official resident of Kansas after his wife, a native of North Carolina, re-established residency in this state so she could run for U.S. Senate here. In 2002, the year she was elected to that office, he voted in person at his Kansas polling place (thus, was unable to cast a ballot in her race).” Furthermore, the report noted that “Elizabeth Dole has sometimes voted via absentee ballot” in North Carolina, “but, unsurprisingly, turned out in person to vote during this year’s primary” and that “Both Doles spend much of their time in Washington.” [Fayetteville Observer, 9/20/08]

Dole Favors Charlie Palmer’s Steakhouse In Washington For Fundraisers. The Raleigh News & Observer reported that, “U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, meantime, favors Charlie Palmer's steakhouse. Receptions to benefit her have been held there April 24, July 20, July 30 and Aug. 5 this year. Hosts have included former Sen. Lauch Faircloth, Sen. Jon Kyl and the International Paper PAC.” [Raleigh News & Observer, 9/25/08]

DOLE MOVED TO NORTH CAROLINA TO RUN FOR SENATE

Dole Lived In Washington For Most Of Her Life, Returned To North Carolina To Run For Senate. A report by Media General noted that Dole “spent almost her entire adult life in Washington before establishing residency in her birth state in 2001 in order to run for Senate.” [Media General, 9/26/08]

“Public Records Show It’s Not Clear What [Dole] Considers Her Official Residence. Media General reported that “a review of the addresses Dole lists on public records show it's not clear what she considers her official address. The address on her voter registration in North Carolina, for example, now lists her Salisbury home. Until 2007, it listed the Watergate condo. And Federal Election Commission records of campaign contributions made by Dole alternately list her address as Salisbury and, as recently as this year, Washington.” [Media General, 9/26/08]

DOLE RAN ON HER WASHINGTON TIES IN 2002, SO HOW CAN SHE CHANGE WASHINGTON NOW?

Dole Won Senate Seat Based On Long Record In Washington & Ties To Republicans. The Wall Street Journal reported that “Six years ago, Elizabeth Dole won a Senate seat based on a long record in Washington and powerful ties to top Republicans.” [Wall Street Journal, 9/12/08]

Bob Dole: Despite Wife’s Presence, There’s Still “Not Much Happening” In The U.S. Senate. During a radio interview on August 22, 2008, Bob Dole said of the U.S. Senate, “It’s pretty much the way it was when I was there, there’s not much happening.” [WTKF Radio Interview, Elizabeth And Bob Dole, 8/22/08]

DOLE HAS PUT WASHINGTON OVER NORTH CAROLINA

No One Disputes The Fact That Dole Spent Too Little Time In North Carolina. Jennifer Duffy, a senior editor for the Cook Political Report, said “no one disputes the charge that [Dole] didn't spend enough time in the state during the first four years of her term." [Media General, 9/26/08]

2003: Dole Spent 55 Days In North Carolina. Media General reported that “travel records show Dole spent about two months in the state during her first year in office.” [Media General, 9/26/08]

2004: Dole Spent 34 Days In North Carolina. Media General reported that Dole spent 34 days in North Carolina in 2004. [Media General, 9/26/08]

2005 – 2006: Dole Spent 33 Days In North Carolina While Running The NRSC; Only 13 Days In 2006. Between 2005 and 2006, while Dole led efforts to elect Senate Republicans as chair of the NRSC, Dole spent only 33 days in North Carolina. During 2006, she spent only 13 days in North Carolina. [Media General, 9/26/08]

2007: With An Election Year On The Horizon, Dole Spent 50 Days In North Carolina In 2007. Media General reported that records show that Dole spent 50 days in North Carolina in 2007 “as she geared up for re-election” the next year. [Media General, 9/26/08]

2008: Dole Returned To North Carolina With Election Nearing. Media General reported that Dole “has spent more than three months in North Carolina in 2008. Her frequent travel across North Carolina this year is a departure from previous years, when she spent much less time in the state, a review of Senate travel records shows.” Records show that Dole has spent 97 days in North Carolina, more than the last three years combined. [Media General, 9/26/08]

Larry Sabato: Dole “Lost Touch With The State She Represents.” Larry Sabato wrote that Dole “lost touch with the state she represents,” and that “recently released figures suggesting Dole spent a mere thirty-three days in North Carolina for all of 2005 and 2006 (two years combined) only underline the Democrats’ charge.” [Virginia Tidewater News. 10/3/08]

Dole Has Voted With President Bush 92% Of The Time. From 2003 to 2007, Dole voted with President Bush 92% of the time. In her first year in office, she supported his positions 98% of the time. [Congressional Quarterly Vote Studies, viewed 3/3/08]

Dole Was “A Loyal Foot Soldier In The Bush Administration’s Army.” Independent Weekly reported that “Through the first nine months of 2007, Dole was a loyal foot soldier in the Bush administration's army. Her voting record was strongly pro-business and anti-labor. She backed the Bush line against environmental and energy-conservation measures, health and education funding, civil rights and tax reform. To this day, Dole is a staunch supporter of the Bush tax cuts for wealthy Americans and proposes to cut corporate taxes further and eliminate estate taxes entirely.” [Independent Weekly, 9/17/08]

---Disclosure: I am Kay Hagan's Online Communications Director---