Cunningham makes stop in Wayne
By Staff Reports
Published in News on May 2, 2010 1:50 AM
Democratic Senate candidate Cal Cunningham made a stop in Wayne County over the weekend, as Tuesday's primary looms.
Cunningham is one of five candidates seeking the Democratic nomination and the chance to challenge Republican incumbent Richard Burr in the fall.
He said he is optimistic about Tuesday "but I'm not taking anything for granted."
His schedule Friday included stops across eastern North Carolina, including a speech at Wilber's Barbecue, Wayne's unofficial Democratic headquarters.
Cunningham, a former member of the 82nd Airborne, said he believes that given its military tradition, North Carolina should be the first state to send a veteran of the war in Iraq to the Senate.
He faces Elaine Marshall, Ken Lewis, Marcus Williams, Ann Worthy and Susan Harris.
People have been responding to his message, he said, emphasizing the need for lawmakers to do more to help small business owners and hold "Wall Street accountable."
He talked about the country's financial troubles and said the U.S. should get tough with China, which has set in place trade rules that are hurting U.S. interests.
"It's not a level playing field right now," he said.
Cunningham said he believes voters will support an energetic candidate who sees things from the working man's point of view and that he is that candidate.
The country must also do more to see that an education is available to people who need to go to school to be a more productive citizen.
"We need to make college more affordable," Cunningham said.