Burr touts stronger economy

RALEIGH - Senator-elect Richard Burr found common ground Wednesday with about 500 Tar Heel business leaders and politicians who want to work together to build a stronger economy in the state.

The N.C. Forum for Research and Economic Education held its annual meeting to congratulate elected officials and to allow new politicians the opportunity to introduce themselves to the business community.

The group is a nonpartisan, nonprofit political research group that polls politicians' positions on pro-business legislation.

"It's not a partisan thing," said John Davis, executive director of NCFREE. "At the end of each election cycle, we congratulate all who won. It's a fantastic day for the newcomers."

Many Democratic and Republican heavyweights attended the gathering.

Before giving the keynote speech, Burr apologized to the group for not appearing as royalty, referring to a campaign ad that ran on TV depicting him as the "king of special interests."

"It's an honor to be here," he said. "But I apologize. I did not wear my crown today."

Burr, a five-term congressman, gave his speech eight days after being elected to the U.S. Senate and a week before orientation for freshman senators.

"I have made 1,400 phone calls and counting this week," he said. "But that is the result of a successful campaign."

But he took a more serious tone as he thanked his Democratic opponent, Charlotte investment banker Erskine Bowles, whom he defeated 52 percent to 47 percent.

"This was a contentious campaign," Burr said. "Erskine could not have been kinder when he called that night to pledge his help to the citizens of North Carolina."

Many polls taken before Election Day showed Burr trailing by as many as 10 percentage points, and the gap did not narrow until the last weeks.

Burr said his success was because he never lost sight of what was essential to voters. "We never lost focus of our objective.

"On November 2nd, that is what mattered."

Once the 109th Congress convenes in January, the state will again have two Republican senators.

"I don't mean to sound partisan," he said. "But we will have two North Carolinians that are supporting each other."

Burr, who was courted to run for Senate by President Bush, said he sees Bush's victory as a mandate for change by the U.S. people.

"The president does have a mandate," he said. "A mandate that Congress and this administration has to do something."

Burr talked about issues that will resonate with Tar Heels in the coming months: unemployment, health care insurance and keeping the state's military bases open. The military is the one of the largest employers in the state.

"The reality is we're going to close bases around the world," he said. "We need to get out and lead the fight."

Burr sees the war on terrorism as the biggest challenge facing the United States and the world. But he said exporting democracies to other countries will make the world safer.

"The world looks to America for leadership," he said. "That is where we are. I encourage you that there are some things worth fighting for."

CONTACT THE STATE & NATIONAL EDITOR AT STNTDESK@UNC.EDU.