NC: Democrat Heath Shuler to Face Independent Challenger from the Left

From the Smoky Mountain News:

A liberal Asheville city council member announced this week he’d run as an Independent in 2012 against U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, potentially eroding Shuler’s Democratic base and making for a tough re-election bid for the three-term congressman.

A former editor for the Asheville-based newspaper Mountain Xpress, Cecil Bothwell acknowledged he has an uphill battle . . . .

to even get on the ballot as an Independent, Bothwell must by Jan. 1, 2012, garner enough voter signatures to equal 4 percent of the total number of registered voters in the 15-county congressional district — about 20,000 signatures. Then, to win, he must battle an experienced candidate with the ability to raise plenty of money to fund his re-election efforts against Shuler, who’s war chest will easily top $1 million by the time campaign season starts.

In response to the article, Bothwell has apparently responded, writing:

 I take exception to the headline that characterizes me as a "far-left liberal."

I want to reign in the Wall street crooks who have beggared those of us in the American working class. I believe we should impose the 40 percent tariff on imports that we had for 200 years before NAFTA and bring jobs back to America. I say we should end the failed war on drugs and invest in education and treatment instead of prisons. I believe it's time to stop spending money on wars of choice and spend money rebuilding America.