Posts by Gary Pearce
WRAL’s “Headline Saturday”
Be sure to turn on the television tomorrow at 7:30 P.M. and check out Carter and I on WRAL’s “Headline Saturday.” We’ll be talking about the Democratic and Republican conventions and, as usual, all things political. Click Here to discuss and comment on this and other articles.
Read MoreThe Clinton-Slayer
It was a remarkable scene: Bill and Hillary Clinton sitting up in the stands, watching as Barack Obama took over their Democratic Party. The Clintons stepped aside with good grace. For Bill especially, ceding the spotlight has never been easy. But here is the real lesson of last night: Barack Obama is a tough, canny…
Read MoreReality Check
Political insiders always overestimate how much attention voters are paying to campaigns. Here was my reality check this week. I was talking to a fellow who does some work at my house. He’s a bright guy, a hard worker, successful in his trade, devoted to his family and his dogs. He knows I do something…
Read MoreWhy Hagan Is Ahead
It’s called television advertising. Say what you want about the onset of the online age. TV ads are still the most powerful weapon in politics. The Public Policy Polling survey that showed Hagan slightly ahead surprised a lot of insiders. It wouldn’t if they had been watching TV. The ads attacking Liddy Dole are brilliant.…
Read MoreRemain Calm. Attack.
Some Democrats are in despair. The national polls are even! The Republicans are up to their usual dirty tricks! Obama has to do something! Relax. But not too much. Of course the polls are even. No surprise. The country is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. And Obama is a fresh new face, with all…
Read MoreBe Like Terry?
A spirited debate broke out at a book club this week about Bev Perdue’s vote to keep illegal immigrants out of the community colleges. A craven cave-in, fumed one (now-ex) Bev supporter. “I may as well vote for Pat McCrory.” Hold on, a still-strong supporter of Bev weighed in: “Don’t you agree that immigrants would…
Read MoreObama’s Veep
I’d pick Hillary. I know all the reasons why Obama shouldn’t and probably won’t. Here is why he should: It’s the only choice that genuinely shakes up the race. And Obama needs to shake it up. It will electrify the convention. It will stump McCain and the Republicans. It will show that Obama is strong…
Read MoreMcCain-Nixon in ’08?
John McCain’s real running mate this year will be Richard Nixon – or, to be precise, the strategy that Nixon pioneered for Republicans in 1972: Make your opponent unacceptable to the Silent Majority. That’s the attack McCain’s Karl Rove-trained team has leveled against Barack Obama for weeks now. It is taking hold. Thirty-six years ago,…
Read MoreEdwards Vs. the N&O
The tension between John Edwards and The News & Observer goes back to the 1998 Senate race. During that campaign, John and Elizabeth – along with some of their Washington consultants and gung-ho young staffers – believed the N&O was treating them unfairly. They decided somebody should storm down to the paper’s offices, confront the…
Read MoreThe Verdict Is In
John Drescher’s letter to readers in today’s N&O makes it clear that John Edwards’ “confession” was a spectacular failure. Drescher, the executive editor, wrote to defend his paper’s coverage. But he concluded with this ominous note for Edwards: “Questions remain about who is the father of Hunter’s baby and whether Edwards knew about payments to…
Read More