When Jim Hunt was Governor no one could open a Seven-Eleven without Hunt adding a new page to his new job recruitment statistics. By the time Governor Hunt left office he’d announced so many new jobs – some promised, some real – the unemployed were in a state of shock. He also made “Smart Start” North Carolina’s most legendary advertising slogan, replacing ‘Plop-plop, fiz-fiz, oh what a relief it is’ and ‘Where’s the beef.’

But when it comes to juggling of numbers Governor-for-life Hunt can’t hold a candle to Mike Easley.

The NC Budget and Center is a very liberal organization. It lavishes praise on Democrats – with barely a kind word for Republicans. So when they say the Governor is all wet – well, it’s kind of like your best friend saying you’re full of baloney.

The Governor brags his new tax plan will eliminate taxes on 545,000 needy North Carolinians.

Not so, says the Budget and Tax Counter. The real number, it says, is 66,000. (They also say most of the people the Governor claims he is eliminating taxes on don’t pay them already.)

The Governor also boasts he’s going to cut taxes in half for another 629,000 North Carolinians. Not so, the Center says. The Governor wildly exaggerated his numbers by 200,000 people.

Finally, the Governor says his plan will cut taxes on a third of the people in North Carolina for only $63 million.

The Center says he underestimated the costs by 600%.

How did the Governor answer all this criticism? He and his “senior fiscal advisor” have vanished from sight. But, in the meantime, his office is stoutly standing by his numbers. (News and Observer; 3-6-07).

The Governor probably has his eyes fixed on a completely different kind of numbers. Poll numbers. He’s had his PR machine working overtime for weeks telling everyone in sight he’s eliminating taxes on a third of North Carolina. His mathematics may be all wet, but his poll numbers are sure to soar.

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