Posts by Gary Pearce
Do TV Ads Work?
Josh Stein’s ads about Mark Robinson certainly worked. They worked because they defined Robinson early in the race and because they used the most devastating weapon in politics: Robinson himself on camera saying, “abortion in this country’s not about protecting the lives of mothers – it’s about killing a child because you weren’t responsible enough…
Read MoreBeware of Darkness
August was a month of joy and hope for Democrats. But darker days lie ahead. In September and October, politics – like the weather – will grow colder, darker and meaner. Republicans will do what they always do: appeal to hate and fear. They’ll run the dark TV ads and roll out the scary mailers…
Read MorePolicy, Schmolicy
The media says Kamala Harris has to answer their questions about policy. No, she doesn’t. Harris has said more about policy in the last month than Trump has in nine years. She talked about policy in her economic speech in Raleigh and her acceptance speech at the Chicago convention. She spoke to every issue: cost…
Read MoreFlag, Family, Freedom and Football
Democrats have seized the symbols of American patriotism this election. Flags filled the hall the night Kamala Harris accepted the nomination (photo). She told the story of her family – and how she’ll fight for our families. She vowed to fight for freedom: “(W)hen Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom, as president of…
Read MoreRoy Raises the Roof
I’m old enough to remember when Democrats worried that Roy Cooper wasn’t a strong public speaker. Then there he was Thursday night: in the spotlight at the Democratic National Convention, the final speaker before Kamala Harris. He gave a rousing five-minute speech that brought the crowd roaring to its feet. He told how Harris, as…
Read MoreKamala Harris, For the People
Kamala Harris accomplished three goals in her forceful acceptance speech. She told us who she is. She eviscerated Trump. She proposed a new way forward. All in just 38 minutes, one of the shortest acceptance speeches ever. Trump’s was 90 minutes – a tired, repetitious litany of gripes, grievances and whining. It’s striking what Harris…
Read More“That’s My Dad”
Gus Walz gave us the most moving moment I’ve ever seen in politics. Tim Walz had just described “the hell that is infertility” that he and his wife Gwen experienced for years before fertility treatments led to the birth of their daughter, now 23. “We named her Hope,” Walz said. “Hope, Gus and Gwen, you…
Read MoreTrump Dishonors Valor
Donald Trump and JD Vance are coming to North Carolina to talk about national security Wednesday – a week after Trump disrespected and dishonored recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. CNN reported: “Trump was praising Republican megadonor Miriam Adelson, whom he awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom while in office, during remarks at his…
Read MoreKamala’s Joy and Hope
I’ve been in and around political campaigns for 50 years, and I’m impressed by Kamala Harris’ operation. (Note to punctuation purists: AP uses Harris’ as the possessive, not Harris’s.) She smoothly took over the ship when President Biden stepped aside. She united our fractious party. She picked an all-star running mate in Coach Tim Walz.…
Read MoreRFK Jr. Hurts Trump
Republicans may regret wanting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on North Carolina’s presidential ballot. Kennedy swims in the same swamp as Trump. He’s an anti-vaxxer and a one-man conspiracy machine. He’s a MAGA magnet. The Washington Post reports that polls show Kennedy “is pulling significantly more votes from Trump than Harris.” The Post said: “Since the…
Read More