Bothwell: My campaign scared Shuler out of race; Rogers a DC insider

Here’s the press release from the Cecil Bothwell campaign:

Frontrunner Bothwell challenged by Washington insider in NC 11
Eleventh District congressional candidate Cecil Bothwell now faces an electoral challenge from retiring Rep. Heath Shuler’s chief of staff.

Bothwell has waged a grassroots campaign against Shuler over the past 10 months which culminated in the withdrawal of the unpopular Congressman from the 2012 race.
Bothwell’s message of “Jobs, Education and Healthcare” has resonated with voters in WNC dismayed by Shuler’s support for a Republican agenda aimed at undermining the President. Bothwell has blasted Shuler for his opposition to the President’s stimulus funding, health care, and jobs legislation, and Shuler’s support for Republican efforts to slash Medicare and Social Security.

“Real Democrats fight for the people, not the corporations,” said Bothwell. “Hayden Rogers has led Shuler’s efforts to support a Republican pro-corporate agenda. I believe North Carolina voters have had their fill of Washington insiders like Rogers.”

Bothwell said, “WNC’s people deserve better. You deserve better. I won’t take corporate or corporate PAC donations. Ask Hayden Rogers where his campaign money is coming from. Hundreds of real people have donated to our campaign. We don’t need another Blue Dog, corporate waterboy here in the mountains.”

Bothwell’s campaign has drawn more than 1,100 volunteers with campaign organizers in every county in the District and has collected more than 820 individual donations. Volunteers have spread the word at more than 100 street fairs, holiday parades, party functions and picnics. His campaign has held seven Town Hall Meetings since January, which have been attended by hundreds of voters. Other meetings are scheduled District-wide.
Bothwell said, “We have the momentum and we’re going to fight to represent the working people of these mountains. Join us!”