Archive for 2016
Trouble in the Suburbs
Here’s one reason it looks like Donald Trump may cause Republicans heartburn this fall: 30% of the voters in North Carolina almost always vote for the Republican candidate and 35% almost always vote Democratic. Conservative Rural Democrats are the first (and smallest) group of swing voters and they’re a blessing to Republicans. They’re only around…
Read MoreAn Outbreak of Independent Candidates
Maybe it’s just an odd coincidence but two ‘Independent’ candidates are running and two more are on the cusp of qualifying to run and every one of them is in a ‘safe’ Republican district. House Majority Leader Mike Hager already has an Independent opponent (with no Democrat in the race) and Senate Republican Leader Phil…
Read MoreSome Folks Never Learn
Senator Richard Burr’s campaign has a rare decorum: There’s been no name calling, no finger pointing and no rants which has to appeal to voters who’re fed up with politics. But sometimes your friends, meaning to be helpful, can land you in a soup. One night last election (in 2014) as I was sitting in…
Read MoreBe nice
As Governor Hunt spoke about Barbara Buchanan during her memorial service this month, something he said took me back many years. And reminded me of a lesson that Barbara taught by example. Barbara was Hunt’s administrative assistant through his four years as Lieutenant Governor, first eight years as Governor, eight years in a law firm…
Read MoreStuck in the Mud?
I turned on Fox News and there was Donald Trump arms waving at a rally giving a vintage broadside. I thought, This is getting old. Two polls last week showed Trump trailing Hillary Clinton by 9 points and 12 points nationally. Another poll showed Trump’s Unfavorable rating rising to 70%: And here in North Carolina…
Read MoreRe-Runs
Back during the Presidential Primary Donald Trump would go on a tear and give the Washington Insiders hell and watching him was enjoyable – but, now, watching Donald Trump berating Pocahontas the way he berated Lyin’ Ted and Little Marco is like watching the same TV program over and over again. I guess Trump would…
Read MoreLooking Back: The Master of the Deal
When George Holding took his final poll on the Wednesday before the election he led Renee Ellmers by almost 30 points. Then, three days later, on Saturday Donald Trump jumped into the primary with both feet – and endorsed Ellmers. In a way Trump’s move was a surprise: Ellmers had initially supported John Kasich and,…
Read MoreLooking Back: A Myth is Born
Since the election reporters have been writing stories explaining why George Holding won and Renee Ellmers lost – one of the first to weigh in was the News and Observer saying Ellmers lost because powerful conservative groups decided to make an example of her. The Club for Growth alone, the N&O reported, “spent nearly $790,000…
Read MoreLooking Back: The Mastermind
I imagine it happened this way: After the Republican Leaders in Congress went down to the White House and made the ‘Omnibus Budget Deal’ with President Obama they then called a caucus of Republican Congressmen to get the votes to pass it. The Leaders explained to the rows of Congressmen how the deal was not…
Read MoreGOP crack-up
We’re witnessing an historic falling-out between the two wings that have given flight to the Republican Party since 1968: the Racists and the Elitists. Since Richard Nixon’s Southern Strategy that year, the Elitists have been able to signal and dog-whistle the Racists enough to keep them inside the tent without offending too many Americans. But…
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