North Carolina – Democrats
Running Hard
If you think running for office is easy, you should have seen Rep. Grier Martin yesterday. The heat index on my street in Raleigh’s North Ridge was somewhere north of 100 degrees. And here came Grier, drenched with sweat through his knit shirt, his khaki slacks and shoes. He was going door to…
Read MoreThe GOP Show
North Carolina Republicans are a long way from winning this fall’s legislative elections, but they’re winning the battle of perceptions. And that battle has big implications for fundraising. Three sources have told me in the last week that the Republicans’ presentations on their prospects for the fall are blowing away the Democrats. …
Read MoreA Cesspool of Corruption?
Back when Beverly Perdue was running for Governor, just before the election I needed a piece of election law clarified before I ran two ads – so I called the State Board of Elections. I wasn’t too hopeful. I thought, Here I am asking a bunch of Democrats about running ads attacking a Democrat –…
Read MoreWelcome, Sarah?
Under the Dome reports that Republicans “had a field day” with Elaine Marshall’s stumble over whether she wants President Obama to campaign in North Carolina. In the end, she said: “I would welcome President Obama to North Carolina.” So here’s the question for Senator Burr: Does he welcome Sarah Palin to North…
Read MorePerdue-care
Here’s another story about how the true-blue liberal Democrats up in Washington and the leading Obama supporters in North Carolina – like Governor Perdue – have gotten cross-wired. By now no one in the United States has any doubt President Obama wants more and better health care. Period. His plan may backfire. But if…
Read MoreWomen on Top
At lunch last week with a group of knowledgeable media and political types, I asked this question: Has any state in the country ever had women simultaneously occupy its top three elected offices – governor and both U.S. Senate seats? Because North Carolina could this year: Governor Bev Perdue, Senator Kay Hagan and –…
Read MoreObama vs. Perdue: Taxing the Rich
I’m beginning to suspect there’s something out of kilter between the true-blue liberals in Washington and their gung-ho cousins (and fellow Obama supporters) here in Raleigh who’re running state government. Up in Washington the true liberals are about to launch the political equivalent of a Holy War to end President Bush’s tax cuts so…
Read MoreConventional Politics
The State Democratic Party convention is in Fayetteville this weekend. If you go, you can see how much politics has changed in a lifetime. State party conventions used to be a big deal. Huge crowds, lots of enthusiasm and a good chance to take a party’s temperature for the upcoming elections. The latter…
Read MoreCapital Buzz
So let’s talk about what Raleigh’s buzzing about this week: Is there some kind of statutory deadline in the Mike Easley case this month – that is, tomorrow? Is something coming from the U.S. Attorney? Is this investigation ever going to end? Is George Holding holding on until President Obama’s second…
Read MoreBe Careful What You Wish For
A Republican lobbyist friend has some advice for GOP legislators if they win the House and Senate this year: demand a recount. “They’ll inherit the worst budget mess in history,” she says. Two years spent wrestling with that mess – and making the cuts that would be required to read their lips: no…
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