NC 02: Etheridge wins

(AllPolitics, Nov. 5) -- Democrat Bobby Etheridge pulled a surprise upset and won back North Carolina's 2nd District for his party as he defeated freshman Republican Rep. David Funderburk.

Etheridge, state superintendent of public instruction, portrayed Funderburk as too extreme for the politically mixed district. In particular, he attacked the incumbent's record on Medicare reform and and federal student loans.

Funderburk, a protege of Senator Jesse Helms, tried to paint Etheridge as a career politican and opportunist. The Republican appeared to have the upper hand going into the election, as the district has gone his party's way in recent presidential ballots.