North Carolina – Republicans

In some ways, no candidate is better positioned for the now wide-open Democratic governor’s race than Richard Moore. He’s a smart, charismatic candidate with enough personal resources to be an instant front-runner.   Moore has strong credentials. He was Governor Hunt’s Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety. He was state Treasurer for eight years.…

Just before the game last night, Bob Etheridge – or @Etheridge4Gov – tweeted: “Who are you all pulling for in the big game tonight? Both UNC and Duke are good teams, it will be a close one – that’s for sure.”   Someone shot back: “bob, gonna need you to take a stand on this…

It’s always easy to forget how fast things can change in politics. Then they do.   Two weeks ago, the governor’s race had settled into a predictable story line: “Governor Perdue in a tough race for reelection against the same opponent she beat four years ago.”   Today that story has disappeared. All the buzz…

Following is an email from Art Pope responding to my blog post yesterday. I reprint it here in full, and I appreciate Art responding – and reading:   Gary, I realize that in your blog you are simply reporting a story “going around,” and not vouching that it is true.   Please let me assure…

As Rob Christensen wrote in his column Sunday, being booed at the Dean Dome a couple of weeks ago may have contributed to Governor Perdue’s decision not to run. And there’s another story going around about that game.   According to this account, Republican puppet-master Art (“I Am Not An Heir”) Pope delivered a clear…

Democrats are down in the dumps: Erskine Bowles and Joe Hackney are both out. And Heath Shuler (though there was less love loss there). The N&O’s top headline proclaims an “exodus” from the legislature.   But take it from an old gray head: We’ve been down before.   In 1988, Democrats had just lost a…

It’s a rule of political thumb: the longer it takes a potential candidate to decide whether to run, the more likely the answer will be no.   Still, North Carolina Democrats sit and wait while Erskine Bowles sits and ponders.   And time’s a’wasting. The primary is in three months, the election in nine.  …

Among the people maddest at Governor Perdue are those who gave money to her campaign  – especially big money when she was putting on a big push recently.   She hasn’t decided what to do with the million-plus she has. Give it back? Give it to charity?   Here’s an idea: turn the money over…