Posts by Gary Pearce
Change
Carter and I spoke this morning to Leadership North Carolina about the political landscape today. The questions were interesting – and pointed: What do the Republicans do now? How will Bev Perdue govern and position herself for 2012? How will the state solve its fiscal problems? How will the feds pay for Medicare and Social…
Read MoreA Call for Respect
Race and politics can bring out the worst in people – and the best. My daughter Maggie, 15, is a high school sophomore. Like her older brother, who has posted blogs here before, she is an ardent Democrat – and fan of Barack Obama. Since Obama won, she has heard some ugly things from her…
Read MoreA Call for Respect
Race and politics can bring out the worst in people – and the best. My daughter Maggie, 15, is a high school sophomore. Like her older brother, who has posted blogs here before, she is an ardent Democrat – and fan of Barack Obama. Since Obama won, she has heard some ugly things from her…
Read MoreWinners and Losers 2008
Campaigns end abruptly. One day you’re going 90 miles an hour, 12 hours a day, seven days a week. All of a sudden Tuesday night it’s over. On Wednesday you bask in the glory if you won or bathe in your friends’ condolences and reassurances if you lost. Then BAM! The exhausted and spent winners…
Read MoreWhat Happened
Three factors carried North Carolina for Hagan, Perdue and – maybe – Obama. It is a mistake to ascribe the result to any one of the three alone. First was the public’s rejection of George Bush because of the economic crisis. In a sense, 2008 was just a continuation of the 2006 election cycle. Voters…
Read MoreNever the Same
An excellent New York Times article today analyzed how 2008 has changed politics forever. And nowhere more than North Carolina. Let us count the ways: BATTLEGROUND: First the primary. When Obama won North Carolina, the late Tim Russert declared that he had won the nomination. Now we’ve had the heady experience of being one of…
Read MoreIs It Over?
I’ve been skeptical about the vaunted Obama ground game. But now I believe it’s real. So real, this election may already be decided in North Carolina. Some 2.6 million people have already voted – 40 percent of the registered voters. Democrats outnumber Republicans 52-30. African-Americans are 27 percent of the total. Republicans have their famous…
Read MoreThanks, John Kerry
John Kerry’s campaign to destroy the Democratic Party continues. It turns out Kerry was one of the organizers of the Kay Hagan fundraiser in Boston where the “Godless Americans” showed up. A tip of the hat to Democratic consultant Joe Sinsheimer for pointing out Senator Kerry’s continuing contributions to the party. And Joe was right…
Read MoreLand of Confusion
A reader emailed this week: “These conflicting polls are making me psycho.” Take Thursday’s N&O. One poll had Obama up six nationally and another, up 16. (Hint: He won’t win by 16.) The North Carolina polls are especially confusing. But one way to look at them is through the lens of race. Take WRAL’s poll…
Read MoreThe Obama Show
Obama fans probably loved Obama’s half-hour show Wednesday night. McCain voters either hated it or turned it off. And undecided voters – who are usually low-information voters anyway – probably didn’t watch it. So it may not make any difference for all the money it cost. But I had a reaction that may be in…
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