North Carolina – Democrats
Why 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 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 MoreKeystone Kops
Letâs forget about who first slept with whom when and whether they stopped two years ago or last month â and talk about John Edwardsâ sheer incompetence. How on earth did he get struck so dumb he convinced himself he could keep a blonde in the closet for two years â with every other political…
Read More‘Dumpling’
Last night, right in the middle of a debate that would put an amphetamine junkie to sleep, there was a flash of near-clairvoyant revelation. Beverly ‘Dumpling’ Perdue (don’t blame me for the nickname; it’s what Mark and Tony and the boys over in the Senate have been calling her for years) and the gnomes over…
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 MoreFlaky to Boot
There are times you just have to look at some of todayâs politicians and shake your head and wonder, What on earth was that fool thinking? Two short breaths ago, Beverly Perdue told WRAL-TV (6-18-08) she was adamantly “100% opposed” to offshore drilling. Then, taking another breath, she bluntly told the Charlotte Observer (7-19-08), âOn…
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 MoreUpside-Down Election
The first campaign I worked in was Jim Hunt’s first race for Governor in 1976. Jimmy Carter was the Democratic candidate for President. He carried North Carolina, and we had the national political wind at our backs. That was the last time. Every presidential year since then, I have watched – and tried to help…
Read MoreJohn Edwards
John Edwards has told ABC News he had an affair with Rielle Hunter. It will be on Nightline tonight. Now, as I’m sure you have, I’ve seen folks get knocked down flat on their backs and get kicked while they’re still lying there. It’s just plain mean. Also, after all this hit the airwaves I…
Read MoreThe Crown Prince of Charlatans
One moment Barack Obama sounds like a wild-eyed liberal who’s out to “save the planet” from the icecaps melting – the next he’s turning around and coming out for offshore drilling. One moment John McCain sounds like a two-fisted independent and maverick – but at the same time down in the bowels of McCain Central…
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