Miller Sends Robinson Packing In Congressional Race

Posted 1:22 p.m. Nov 8, 2006 — Updated 1:22 p.m. Nov 8, 2006

RALEIGH, N.C. — Vernon Robinson's appeal to secure the border couldn't secure an election victory Tuesday, as Democratic Congressman Brad Miller held onto his 13th District seat for a third term.

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With 100 percent of the votes tallied, Miller led Robinson 64 to 36 percent, according to unofficial results.

Robinson, a Republican from Forsyth County, focused his campaign on the hot-button issues of illegal immigration and terrorism, using images of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center and roundups of undocumented workers on his television commercials. He also criticized Miller for votes in Congress he said didn't reflect the values of North Carolina voters.

Meanwhile, Miller, a former state representative and state senator from Raleigh, said Robinson's extreme views were out of touch with voters.

"I think some of the vote was about Vernon Robinson, and that's fine. I want the race to be about Vernon Robinson because I want to the nation to see what he represents is not who we are," Miller said.

Robinson refused to concede defeat as the night wore on, saying media coverage of early voting returns is often wrong.

"I think we did a great job of giving voters a choice between a mainstream conservative and the most liberal Democrat in the South," Robinson said. "Voters have made their decision, and we're just waiting for the results to come in."

Miller said he looked forward to the possibility of Democrats retaking control of the House.

"I very much want to be in the majority in the next Congress," he said. "I really want to get some things done and have Congress act with a willingness to find common ground and compromise."

Other Congressional Races

Miller was joined by several other incumbents who enjoyed early victory celebrations Tuesday:

David Price took the 4th District seat with 76 percent of the vote over Republican Steve Acuff.

Bob Etheridge topped Republican Dan Mansell in the 2nd District with 65 percent of the vote.

Walter Jones captured 69 percent of the votes in the 3rd District in eastern North Carolina to outdistance Democrat Craig Weber.

Howard Coble topped Democrat Rory Blake in the 6th District in the central part of the state by a 70 percent to 30 percent margin.

Sue Myrick grabbed 67 percent of the votes in the 9th District in Charlotte to easily defeat Democrat Bill Glass.

Mike McIntyre captured re-election in the 7th District in southeastern North Carolina by a 74 to 26 percent margin over Republican Shirley Davis.

Patrick McHenry topped Democrat Richard Carsner with 63 percent of the votes in the 10th District near Charlotte.

Mel Watt won the snake-like 12th District, which stretches from the Triad to Charlotte, by downing Republican Ada Fisher 65 percent to 35 percent.

Democrat G.K. Butterfield ran uopposed in the 1st District in the northeast part of the state.

Republican incumbent Virginia Foxx in the 5th District in the Triad had a tough re-election campaign, but outlasted Democrat Roger Sharpe 56 percent to 44 percent.

The 8th District race went down to the wire late Tuesday, with Republican incumbent Robin Hayes narrowly leading Democrat Larry Kissell by fewer than 3,000 votes with 82 percent of the votes counted.

Meanwhile, Republican incumbent Charles Taylor conceded defeat to former NFL quarterback Heath Shuler in the 11th District in the western North Carolina mountains. Shuler's conservative stances -- he's anti-abortion and anti-gun control -- helped pull many independents and conservative Democrats into his camp.

Taylor became the first House incumbent ousted by North Carolina voters in a decade. In 1996, Fred Heineman and David Funderburk, two Republicans elected in the sweep of 1994, lost to Price and Etheridge, respectively.

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