Posts by Gary Pearce
Thom Warner Cable?
Time Warner Cable News made more news than it intended with the “empty chair” debate. One media critic said TWC “orchestrated a phony scandal and boosted Thom Tillis’s North Carolina Senate campaign by placing an empty chair for his opponent, Democratic Senator Kay Hagan, at an event it billed as a ‘debate’ — though…
Read MoreTV Ads and Truth
My last blog raised the possibility that big money and negative TV ads increase voter turnout. Now let’s consider the radical idea that the same two evils have another happy effect: increasing the level of voter information. Denouncing the money and the ads, an N&O editorial said, “The ‘assault ads’ that bombard the viewer…
Read MoreTV and Turnout
As good citizens, we all know that these two truths are self-evident in politics. First, as both editorial writers and Walmart moms agreed in the paper today, big money and “assault ads” are bad. Second, (as everybody but the Republican legislature, Governor McCrory and the State Board of Elections apparently think) higher voter turnout is…
Read MoreThe TV Mirror
Here’s the worst thing about all those negative political ads on TV: They mirror our national psyche right now. You can blame the politicians and their consultants. But they’re giving you what they know works on you: fear and anger. On both sides. Democrats are angry about the North Carolina legislature for…
Read MoreThe New N&O
The paper’s print-edition changes were up for discussion at breakfast. Jim likes it: “That’s how I used to read the paper: front page first, then local and state news and Under the Dome. Now they’re all right there at the front.” Gil’s not so happy. “My wife and I used to divvy up the…
Read MoreInside the War Rooms
In the state where President Obama had his closest win in 2008 and his closest loss in 2012, why wouldn’t the U.S. Senate race be tight as a tick? Carter has posted a great series of blogs about the race (although he’s wrong on the education issue). My other favorite blogger, Thomas Mills, weighed…
Read MorePoll Jam
Francis DeLuca at Civitas took issue with my blog about their polls (“Cooking Numbers at Civitas.”) He tweeted (@fxdeluca): “@jgaryp thanks for the follow! But don’t appreciate your comments about Civitas polling! #youknowbetter.” Here’s what I know. When the late Jack Hawke was at Civitas, he worked hard to give their polls credibility. But…
Read MoreIn Praise of Pat
Stop the presses. I have something nice to say about Governor McCrory. Unlike his Republican colleagues Thom Tillis, Phil Berger and Dan Forrest, McCrory said he will respect and obey the court decision on gay marriage, even if he doesn’t like it. Good for him. But why? I asked a couple of…
Read More$6 Million Ain’t What It Used to Be
Some perspective on the breathless reports that the National Republican Senatorial Committee is pumping another $6.5 million into Thom Tillis’ campaign: What does that buy, and what does it get you with still-undecided voters? On the buy, it gets you about half what it would get you if you had bought the time weeks…
Read MoreThe Jamie Kirk Hahn Foundation
I miss Jamie. I miss her smile, her laugh and the parties she threw. This campaign season, I’ve missed her political smarts and fundraising skills. A lot of candidates could have used her. So this weekend I’ll join a lot of people – many who knew her and miss her and many who didn’t…
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