It appears that former U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor might be prepared to break his silence over whether he’ll run again next year for the 11th Congressional District seat held by U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, who upset Taylor in last year’s elections.
Taylor announced today that his annual fund-raising holiday dinner would be held Dec. 8 at the Grove Park Inn at 7 p.m. The announcement also notes that Republican presidential candidates Mike Huckabee, Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney have been invited to speak. Taylor’s folks say Huckabee has accepted and Thompson is a good possibility. That’s some serious star power.
The last several months, Taylor has angered some members of his own party by not yet announcing his intentions earlier. Several other Republican candidates have stepped in to fill the perceived void. Asheville City Councilman Carl Mumpower, former Henderson County GOP official Spence Campbell and lawyer John Armor have all said they’re running for the GOP nomination and the chance to take on Shuler.
Ashvegas predicted months ago that Taylor would run again, and we’ve stuck by that prediction. So look for the big announcement at the holiday dinner on Dec. 8. Here’s Taylor’s announcement:
ASHEVILLE, NC – Western North Carolina’s longtime US representative said today he is continuing a mountain holiday tradition — with a political theme.
Former US Congressman Charles H. Taylor announced he will host the Sixteenth Annual Holiday Dinner at 7 pm, Saturday December 8. Keeping with tradition, the event will be held at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville.
"Although I am not an announced candidate, we are less than a year from an election that will shape our future. This is an opportunity for people in Western North Carolina to meet our future leaders," said Taylor.
Taylor also announced that US Presidential candidates Mike Huckabee, Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney have been invited to speak.
."Everyone should have the opportunity to meet the candidates who want to lead our nation" said Taylor.
Taylor said former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee has accepted the invitation to attend the dinner.
He said former Tennessee US Senator Fred Thompson is also likely to attend.
Taylor held his first annual holiday dinner in 1992.
It has since grown into one of the largest political events in North Carolina, and is the largest sit-down political dinner in the state.
More than a thousand people attended in 2006; an even larger crowd is expected this year because of the current political climate in WNC and the US.
Taylor said he holds the annual dinner to give WNC residents the opportunity to meet outstanding candidates so they can make an informed choice on whom to vote for in the upcoming 2008 election.
Taylor is widely known for bringing in big-names for his annual holiday dinners.
Former keynote speakers include Dick Cheney, Bob Dole and Newt Gingrich.
In 2006, presidential candidate Duncan Hunter spoke at the dinner. Taylor also hosted presidential candidate Tom Tancredo at a Town Hall meeting on illegal immigration in 2006.
"In a short time, not only must we choose a qualified governor and many local and statewide representatives," said Taylor, "but most importantly, we must also choose the next leader of the United States.
".I invite people to come together to meet these candidates."
3 Comments
"No Ron Paul?"
Oh, why not:
Restore The Republic
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=11984082
No Ron Paul?
Honestly, I don’t think he’ll run. I could be wrong, but from a practical standpoint I really don’t think he has it in him, health-wise. Another campaign would probably kill him.
But if he does, we’ll be ready.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to ctrl-v this post over @ ScruHoo. Because, you know, any time anyone mentions Charles Taylor we start screaming like little girls and running around in a panic. 😉