05/07/2008

BY KEVIN MAURER  / Associated Press

All four members of North Carolina's House delegation challenged in Tuesday's primary breezed to easy victories.

Incumbents Republican Reps. Sue Myrick of Charlotte, Patrick McHenry of Cherryville, and Walter Jones of Farmville, along with Democratic Rep. Brad Miller of Raleigh, all advanced to November by wide margins.

Jones faced one of the stiffest challenges of his career, but the race wasn't close. With 99 percent of precincts reporting unofficial returns, Jones captured 60 percent of the vote to challenger Joe McLaughlin's 40 percent. Jones won 14 out of 17 counties in North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District.

"I think I know this district and the people have spoken," Jones said in a phone interview.

Jones is a seven-term congressman who pushed to bring "freedom fries" to the U.S. House cafeteria in a symbolic protest of French opposition to the Iraq war. But he grew to oppose the war not long after it began and his increasing stand against the conflict in the past two years has placed him at odds with some members of the Republican Party in his district, home to the Marine Corps' Camp Lejeune and other bases.

Jones was also one of a handful of Republican congressmen to vote in favor of a timetable for troop withdrawals last year. He said the primary win shows that Republicans in the 3rd District support a new plan in Iraq.

"I think more and more Republicans are starting to understand after five years that the Iraqis need to step up and take responsibility," Jones said.

Jones said he retained some strong military support in his district, particularly among retired Marines and other veterans.

"We are close to the veterans and they knew it," said Jones, who will face Democrat Craig Weber in November — a rematch of the 2006 general election.

Asheville City Councilman Carl Mumpower won a race between three Republicans in the 11th District, and will face Rep. Heath Shuler as the GOP tries to unseat the only freshman in the state's delegation to the U.S. House.

Mumpower narrowly defeated former Henderson County GOP chairman Spence Campbell, 48 percent to 42 percent with all precincts reporting. Highlands attorney John Armor had 10 percent.

A moderate who defends gun rights and opposes abortion, Shuler has been careful not to upset conservative voters in his district. He has broken with his party on several occasions, including last month when he voted against a Democratic budget that he didn't think did enough to protect tax cuts targeted to the middle class.