North Carolina – Republicans – Page 37

A Genie

By Carter Wrenn | July 14, 2016

The four newspaper headlines told a troubling story. ‘Hillary Outraises Trump.’ ‘Cooper Outraises McCrory.’ ‘Ross Outraises Burr.’ ‘Stein Outraises Newton’ (for Attorney General). What the heck – has some evil genie appeared out of thin air showering money on Democrats? There was one glimmer of good news: Deborah Ross raised more than Richard Burr last…

Heads in the Sand

By Carter Wrenn | July 13, 2016

Here’s one way Washington Politicians plant the seeds of a train wreck: Republican Leaders and Political Masterminds are telling anxious Senators and Congressmen the fall election is looking just fine: That the ‘Generic Ballot’ questions – like, ‘In the election for US Congress this fall are you more likely to vote for the Democratic candidate…

Cooper’s cash coup

By Gary Pearce | July 13, 2016

There’s no need for Roy Cooper’s campaign to spin this one, and no use in Pat McCrory’s campaign trying to spin out of it. Cooper is crushing McCrory in fundraising. There are only two ways to keep score in politics before Election Day: polls and money. The polls are close in the Governor’s race. The…

Grand Juries and Temptation

By Carter Wrenn | July 8, 2016

It’s pretty hard to convict a politician of corruption but a well-meaning soul over in the State House tried to change that by putting a provision in a crime bill to allow Grand Juries to investigate politicians in bribery and corruption cases. There was probably never a bill politicians were less likely to pass but,…

Checks and Balances

By Carter Wrenn | July 6, 2016

Federal judges in Richmond deciding school board districts in Wake County sounds odd but in another way it’s a bit of time-honored Americana. Make no mistake: Redistricting is raw politics. It isn’t a fight between right and wrong. Or two philosophies. It’s a power grab. And every chance they get both parties grab for…

A Clash of Titans

By Carter Wrenn | June 28, 2016

Here’re the highlights of Pat and Roy’s first debate: Pat: I’m against Mental Health addiction. Roy: My mom taught me to love education. Roy again: Pat doesn’t do enough about mental health. Pat: The way Roy ran the crime lab when I was Mayor was a disaster. Pat again: Roy was part of the Good…

A Sign

By Carter Wrenn | June 27, 2016 |

It’s hard these days to tell who’s on top in the Governor’s race: One day one poll has Pat up. A few days later the same poll has Pat down. Then another poll – by Civitas or High Point University or Elon University or PPP – has Pat up again. It’s a muddle. But, sometimes,…

Trouble in the Suburbs

By Carter Wrenn | June 23, 2016

Here’s one reason it looks like Donald Trump may cause Republicans heartburn this fall: 30% of the voters in North Carolina almost always vote for the Republican candidate and 35% almost always vote Democratic. Conservative Rural Democrats are the first (and smallest) group of swing voters and they’re a blessing to Republicans. They’re only around…

An Outbreak of Independent Candidates

By Carter Wrenn | June 22, 2016

Maybe it’s just an odd coincidence but two ‘Independent’ candidates are running and two more are on the cusp of qualifying to run and every one of them is in a ‘safe’ Republican district. House Majority Leader Mike Hager already has an Independent opponent (with no Democrat in the race) and Senate Republican Leader Phil…

Some Folks Never Learn

By Carter Wrenn | June 21, 2016

Senator Richard Burr’s campaign has a rare decorum: There’s been no name calling, no finger pointing and no rants which has to appeal to voters who’re fed up with politics. But sometimes your friends, meaning to be helpful, can land you in a soup. One night last election (in 2014) as I was sitting in…