Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
The Politics of Breast Cancer
The guest blog below was sent to me by a TAPster Friday, before the Komen Foundation cried uncle – or aunt. But it’s worth posting today: Anyone who watched yesterday’s Andrea Mitchell interview with Susan Komen Foundation founder Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker could plainly see a train wreck in slow motion. Not only did…
State of Blues
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…
Waiting
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. …
Bev’s Money
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…
McCrory’s Needle is Stuck
Pat McCrory’s announcement statement showed that he hasn’t figured out how this campaign has changed. McCrory has spent four years running against Bev Perdue. Now he’s like Wiley Coyote running over the cliff: his legs are still pumping but there’s nothing underneath him anymore. To switch metaphors, he’s signing the same old song.…
A Sign
The two things that matter most in a political campaign are being right with the Lord and money. Today, candidates in the Republican Primary for Congress in the 13th District filed their year-end FEC reports. They showed total income for each campaign: George Holding: $462,500. Paul Coble: $135,200. Now, before I go any…
Talking ’bout Two Generations
Last week I was literally at sea – on a cruise. For the last 48 hours, I’ve been immersed in the stormy seas of Democratic politics. The first thing that struck me is the generational divide. Many older Democrats (i.e. – older than me) see Perdue’s decision as a potential disaster and Erskine…
Don’t Run, Erskine
Prediction: Erskine Bowles won’t run. Suggestion: He shouldn’t. Yesterday I gave Laura Leslie and Rob Christensen all the reasons Erskine would be a great governor. The problem is that he’s a terrible candidate. Even he has admitted: “I have empirical data that I was a terrible politician.” He has proven it twice. That…
Quitting Time
In politics, you’re never beaten until you give up. Governor Perdue is now officially beaten. She proclaims she’ll keep fighting and she’s no lame duck. She apparently gave a rousing speech to the Sanford-Hunt-Frye dinner. Still, she’s laying down her sword and walking off the field of battle. No doubt she feels beat…