Apologies to Greensboro blogger Guarino for borrowing his title in describing Hagan’s actions (or rather inaction) on the nomination of a new US Attorney for the Eastern District of NC, but Burr’s announcement on Friday that he would not block Thomas Walker’s nomination is an even bigger misstep.
According to poll results we released on Friday, 76 percent of North Carolina voters think current US Attorney George Holding should be allowed to complete his investigations into former Gov. Mike Easley and former US Senator John Edwards before being replaced.
It begs the question, why would Burr come out and take the position of not blocking the replacement US Attorney? He has very little, if any, risk in doing so. Keeping Holding on the job is supported across political parties and strongly by unaffiliated voters. If anything, Burr runs the risk of alienating his base voters through this announcement more than he risks any backlash from the left.
Burr could very easily take the position that he will support Walker’s nomination, but only after the current investigations are complete. Widely supported, politically safe. Instead, he’s chosen the most unpopular path possible. And many wonder why his poll numbers aren’t any better.
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