By Staff
Senator’s husband stumps in town, stops at Bojangles’
By TED STRONG
Staff Writer
Folks stopping at Bojangles’ Famous Chicken &Biscuits on Carolina Avenue in Washington on Thursday morning found some things they probably expected — flaky biscuits, fried chicken, sweet tea and dirty rice — and someone they didn’t expect — former Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole.
Dole, who also served a number of years as senator from Kansas, was in town to campaign for current Republican nominee John McCain, as well as his wife, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.).
Bob Dole started the morning at the Beaufort County Republican headquarters on Gladden Street in Washington, where he met and addressed a small crowd that had gathered to see him.
Dole warned the Republicans that national Democratic political interests will be sending funding to the state and called liberal political donors in Hollywood “the gift that keeps on giving” to the Democratic party.
He asked if the local party is targeting for recruitment those moving to the state .
Beaufort County Republican Party Chairman Ashley Woolard told Dole the party is particularly interested in the influx of retirees as a way to improve on its current disadvantage in number of registered voters.
Dole said his wife cares passionately about her work in the senate, and takes her work home with her.
He said his wife is the right candidate for North Carolina voters.
Dole also vouched for John McCain, who he said he’s known for a long time.
Dole said McCain has a number of good candidates to choose from to be his vice presidential running mate, but Dole particularly likes Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, he said.
A number of people in the audience wanted to know what Dole thought of Joe Leiberman, a democratic senator from New York who was the democratic vice presidential nominee in 2004.
Dole said Leiberman is too liberal on a number of issues, but has done a great job on defense issues.
From the headquarters, Dole rode to Bojangles’ where he sipped coffee and introduced himself to diners.
Dole introduced himself around the room, waited for it to clear out and fill up again, then introduced himself around again.