Posts by Gary Pearce
Which Way for North Carolina?
The decision about Obamacare highlights the tension that will mark North Carolina’s politics the next four years. The tension stems from an election that saw the nation go in one direction (largely Democratic) and North Carolina in another (almost all Republican). When political partisans win an election, they tend to believe that an…
Read MoreDon’t Blame Etheridge
A TAPster takes issue with the blog criticizing Bob Etheridge for running against Walter Dalton: “I disagree with the argument that Bobby Etheridge caused Dalton’s defeat. If anything, the primary gave Dalton an opportunity to take his case to the public sooner rather than later. It is true that Perdue’s midnight decision put Dalton…
Read MoreRTP On the Road
Pardon me for plugging an old friend, but you should check out what’s happening at the Research Triangle Park under new President & CEO Bob Geolas. Last week, the Park rolled out its new master plan. It envisions more urban-type centers to complement the consummate campus setting. New companies, new talent and new minds…
Read MoreDalton’s Etheridge Problem
A TAPster asks a good question: “Why does nobody, or certainly almost nobody, mention Bob Etheridge by name when describing the factors that lead to Walter Dalton’s defeat? While Etheridge certainly wasn’t the sole source of Dalton’s problems, Etheridge certainly sucked every last dollar out of Dalton’s bank account thru early summer, leaving Dalton…
Read MoreRevenge of the Nerds
This election’s winners include not only data nerds like Nate Silver, but also the Obama campaign’s numbers-crunchers. Wasn’t data analysis supposed to be Romney’s strength at Bain and the Olympics? The Obama staff – parodied as a bunch of soft-headed, socialist community organizers – were precise and efficient in their targeting and resource allocation.…
Read MoreRed State Blues
Why was North Carolina a bright spot in an otherwise dark day for Republicans nationally? Were my Republican consultant friends – Carter, Luther Snyder, Tom Fetzer, Paul Shumaker and Jack Hawke – that much smarter than their colleagues across the country? Or was it just a weird confluence of circumstances: a governor’s race…
Read MoreBad Start, Pat
Yesterday I wrote nice things about Governor-elect McCrory. But his entrance onto the Raleigh stage this week wasn’t a good one. Look at it this way: McCrory has a strong brand in North Carolina right now. He just won big. He gets the benefit of the winner’s glow. He should milk that political capital.…
Read MoreCongrats, Pat
Pat McCrory may not like this, but he reminds me a bit of Jim Hunt. His speech Tuesday night talked about North Carolina’s reaching and exceeding “their full potential.” Since then he has talked about reaching out to Republicans and Democrats. During the campaign he boasted about working across party lines in Charlotte. He even…
Read MoreDivided We Stand
On the day after, we’re as split emotionally as we are politically. Democrats celebrate President Obama’s historic reelection. America has now twice elected a black man to the highest office. His win validates his policies: the stimulus, auto bailout and financial reform. Health care reform will survive. He will fill Supreme Court vacancies. He…
Read MoreIf Obama Wins…
The baffling question is how Mitt Romney lost. If ever this was a challenger’s race to win, this was it. The economy is bad. Obama is an activist in an anti-government age. He has never done a good job of selling his record. He was not a great candidate this year. He bombed in the…
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