Fred Smith didn’t waste any time welcoming Charlotte Mayer Pat McCrory to the governor’s race. His response to McCrory’s announcement: He called McCrory a “tax and spend liberal” who “probably ought to be in the other party.”

There’s a point to Smith’s bluntness. Pat McCrory is largely known outside Charlotte. Smith means to correct that. By telling voters who McCrory is. Before McCrory does.

Now in a Republican Primary when somebody calls you a liberal those are fighting words. But McCrory didn’t put up much fight at all. He told The News and Observer he’s going to stay positive. Nice sentiment. Big mistake.

McCrory’s has the endorsements of former Governor’s Jim Holshouser and Jim Martin, $300,000 in the bank (left-over from his last Mayor’s campaign) and a base in Charlotte. But if Fred Smith tags him as a liberal none of that will matter.

Pat, next time Fred Smith calls you a “tax and spend liberal,” you’d better come out swinging.

Click Here to discuss and comment on this and other articles.