One reason Tim Russert was good at political journalism was that he started in politics. So he had an understanding and a love of the game that animated his interviews, reporting and analysis. Most political reporters I know are excellent. They work hard to understand politics. But there is nothing like having been in the…
Read MoreAlbert the pollster’s just gotten back a national poll and he’s in a funk. Albert, as he says, has three levels of warnings when he’s advising a campaign. The first example is when the campaign wants to make a silly mistake, but one that won’t do a great deal of harm. When that happens Albert…
Read MoreI had dinner last night with my old friend Will, the lawyer, and, right off, after the first beer he said, President Bush is as dumb as a post. Now, Will is an old Reagan man. He remembers seeing Reagan’s speech for Goldwater on TV in 1964 and he’s a purist. He still thinks of…
Read MoreIf one of my Reliable Sources is right, Bev Perdue’s partisans have much to worry about now that she has agreed to five debates with Pat McCrory. The Source reports that McCrory outshone Perdue at the N.C. Chamber’s Manufacturing Summit in Greensboro this week. The Source acknowledges that it was a Republican crowd. But added…
Read MoreThe nomination is settled, the race is over, and the loser has conceded. Now the political world waits to see whether the loser will get fully behind the winner. Not Hillary Clinton. Richard Moore. For more than a month since the gubernatorial primary, Moore has avoided a full-bore endorsement of Bev Perdue. Interviewed after Obama’s…
Read MoreA tip of the hat to Joyce Fitzpatrick, who sent along this news item: “The News & Observer is preparing to lay off about 10 percent of its newsroom staff and will announce other cuts affecting its news operation, sources inside the N&O tell WRAL.com.” And the N&O responded exactly the same way that its…
Read MoreWord around Raleigh is that Kay Hagan wants to run – a la Bev Perdue – a “positive” campaign. If she does, Democrats can forget beating Liddy Dole. You don’t beat an incumbent by being positive. You have to offer voters a better alternative. If it makes you feel better, call it a “contrast” campaign…
Read MoreBarack Obama is supposed to be quite the pickup basketball player, and he’s putting quite the head fake on John McCain in North Carolina. It’s good strategy. Obama has the money and the grassroots organization to make the Republicans worry – at least for now – about how much time and money to spend here.…
Read MorePat McCrory was always the Republicans’ best bet to win the Governor’s race in November. But how can he win in what may be a Democratic year? There is only one way: Use Obama’s strategy. Be the candidate of Change. Attack “a culture of corruption and mismanagement in Raleigh.” He doesn’t have to overstate things.…
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