N.C. Democrat praises Burr -- while DSCC struggles to recruit his challenger

While Democrats struggle to find a viable candidate to challenge North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr (R), his old Democratic opponent is showering him with praise.

Burr defeated Erskine Bowles, the current president of the University of North Carolina, five years ago in a tough congressional race that cost both candidates millions. Although the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee hopes to try its luck again against Burr in 2010, they are still without a candidate -- a setback perhaps only compounded by Bowles' glaring show of support for Burr on Monday morning.

"I've had a chance to work with this guy for four full years and nobody works harder or smarter for North Carolina than Richard Burr does," Bowles told a crowd of 200 gathered at North Carolina Central University.

Democrats originally hoped state Attorney General Roy Cooper would challenge Burr next year, but Cooper bowed out of the contest in May, leaving the DSCC few appealing options. Currently in the race, however, is Secretary of State Elaine Marshall; still weighing a bid is Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-N.C.).

Although Burr's approval ratings leave much to be desired, polls predict the congressman could beat a generic Democratic candidate by as much as 20 points, according to Public Policy Polling's latest survey, conducted earlier this month. Burr also bests both Etheridge and Marshall by 11 points and 12 points, respectively, in PPP's preliminary election matchup.