http://66.225.205.104/JR20100219a.mp3
Charlotte resident Erskine Bowles has been chosen by President Obama to co-chair a commission with a daunting task: to rein in the national deficit which is currently close to $1.5 trillion. Bowles is the current president of the University of North Carolina. In the 90s, he was President Clinton's chief of staff and then ran for U.S. Senate. WFAE's Julie Rose spoke with Bowles today about his new assignment and his political aspirations. During their discussion, Bowles said he has no plans parlay the high profile role into another political office. " 'Cause I'm probably the worst politician that ever existed in the state of North Carolina," said Bowles, laughing. "I've got empirical data to prove I'm terrible at it. I lost twice, are you kiddin'? I'm done with partisan politics." Bowles ran as a Democrat for Senate in 2002 against Republican Elizabeth Dole and again in 2004 against Richard Burr. Bowles says the call from President Obama to head the new debt commission came last week, around the time he announced plans retire as UNC President after just five years. By December, Bowles says he will have finished both assignments and plans to be back in Charlotte full-time with his grandchildren.