Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
Roy Raises the Roof
I’m old enough to remember when Democrats worried that Roy Cooper wasn’t a strong public speaker. Then there he was Thursday night: in the spotlight at the Democratic National Convention, the final speaker before Kamala Harris. He gave a rousing five-minute speech that brought the crowd roaring to its feet. He told how Harris, as…
Kamala Harris, For the People
Kamala Harris accomplished three goals in her forceful acceptance speech. She told us who she is. She eviscerated Trump. She proposed a new way forward. All in just 38 minutes, one of the shortest acceptance speeches ever. Trump’s was 90 minutes – a tired, repetitious litany of gripes, grievances and whining. It’s striking what Harris…
“That’s My Dad”
Gus Walz gave us the most moving moment I’ve ever seen in politics. Tim Walz had just described “the hell that is infertility” that he and his wife Gwen experienced for years before fertility treatments led to the birth of their daughter, now 23. “We named her Hope,” Walz said. “Hope, Gus and Gwen, you…
Trump Dishonors Valor
Donald Trump and JD Vance are coming to North Carolina to talk about national security Wednesday – a week after Trump disrespected and dishonored recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. CNN reported: “Trump was praising Republican megadonor Miriam Adelson, whom he awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom while in office, during remarks at his…
More Silly Politics
Just before the election in October of 2008, sitting in my office pollster John McLaughlin opened a poll, said Obama was leading John McCain in North Carolina. No Democrat had won a presidential election in North Carolina in decades. No black man had ever won a statewide race for senator or governor. I shook my…
Which Road is Worse?
Sitting at a wide round table in a restaurant a local politician on a tear ended by saying Kamala Harris ‘is dumb as a rock.’ A tall thin man with a rectangular face sitting beside him, glanced at a lady sitting across the table lips pursed, curious, smiled. “Madeline?” Short thick dark hair with wisps…
Kamala’s Joy and Hope
I’ve been in and around political campaigns for 50 years, and I’m impressed by Kamala Harris’ operation. (Note to punctuation purists: AP uses Harris’ as the possessive, not Harris’s.) She smoothly took over the ship when President Biden stepped aside. She united our fractious party. She picked an all-star running mate in Coach Tim Walz.…
RFK Jr. Hurts Trump
Republicans may regret wanting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on North Carolina’s presidential ballot. Kennedy swims in the same swamp as Trump. He’s an anti-vaxxer and a one-man conspiracy machine. He’s a MAGA magnet. The Washington Post reports that polls show Kennedy “is pulling significantly more votes from Trump than Harris.” The Post said: “Since the…
The Unexpected Strikes
For a year, from the night Trump announced he was running again, Biden’s unpopularity was the bedrock beneath Trump’s feet. He led in poll after poll. Until an unseen hand moved – and Biden got out. The ground shifted beneath Trump’s feet. Now poll after poll shows Trump trailing Kamala Harris. Last week, holding another…