In late October, a new Public Policy Polling survey showed Hagan leading Dole 48–45%, with Cole chosen by 4%. Another survey indicated that Cole was drawing support of 6–7%. An August poll conducted by Public Policy Polling showed 42% of respondents supporting Hagan to 39% for Dole Cole was the choice of 5%. The race between Dole and Hagan was expected to be close, and it was suggested that Cole might influence the outcome by taking a small but significant share of votes from one of the major-party candidates.
While Dole and Democratic challenger Kay Hagan insisted on the need for border security to deal with illegal immigration, Cole ascribed the problem to the minimum-wage law and other labor restrictions. Ĭole's platform included ending the Iraq War and abolishing the personal income tax. One of his goals in running, he said, was to generate support for Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr and gubernatorial candidate Mike Munger if either won more than 2% of the vote, the party would retain its recognition and would not need to gather signatures for the 20 elections. When he entered the race, the Libertarian Party was not officially recognized by the state rather than going through a primary, he had to secure signatures on a petition. Senate seat held by Republican Elizabeth Dole. Incumbent Democrat Beverly Perdue won re-election with 55.6% of the vote to Republican Jim Snyder's 42.8%. Ĭole was the Libertarian candidate for lieutenant governor in the 2004 election. The four winners received from 36,743 to 41,661 votes after Cole, the worst-performing candidate received 24,468. Two Republicans and two Democrats, including both incumbents, won the four seats Cole received 5,533 votes, less than any other candidate.
Ĭole again ran for the City Council in 2003, this time for one of four at-large seats the other candidates were three Democrats and four Republicans, including one incumbent from each of the two major parties. In that race, Republican Sue Myrick was re-elected with 72.4% of the vote to Democrat Ed McGuire's 25.8%. Congress in North Carolina's 9th congressional district.
Graham was re-elected, with 6,976 votes to Cole's 762. In 2001, Cole sought election to the District 4 seat on the Charlotte City Council, challenging incumbent Malcolm Graham. In 1996, Cole unsuccessfully ran as a Libertarian for a seat in the North Carolina General Assembly against Jim Black in House District 36.