Carter is a Republican. Gary is a Democrat.

They met in 1984, during the epic U.S. Senate battle between Jesse Helms and Jim Hunt. Carter worked for Helms and Gary, for Hunt.

Years later, they became friends. They even worked together on some nonpolitical clients.

They enjoy talking about politics. So they started this blog in 2005.

They’re still talking. And they invite you to join the conversation.

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Carter Wrenn

Gary Pearce 2024

Gary Pearce

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Two More Issues

By Carter Wrenn September 7, 2018

More people say yes than no when asked whether they’d vote for George Holding because he supported the Republican tax cuts – but not as many more as you might expect. On the other hand, when asked whether they would support Linda Coleman if they knew she wants to repeal the tax cut and raise…

Two Issues

By Carter Wrenn September 7, 2018

In George Holding’s poll, we asked voters about several issues he and Linda Coleman disagree on. For example, George Holding opposes Sanctuary Cities and here’s a video of Linda Coleman, at a Democratic forum, saying she supports Sanctuary Cities (at 27:20 into the video). It turns out voters oppose Sanctuary Cities 70% to 22%. Undecided…

Two Unique Groups of Voters

By Carter Wrenn September 6, 2018

Let’s compare two unique groups of voters. First, people who have high school degrees. African American Democrats in this group already overwhelmingly disapprove of Trump (Approve 10%, Disapprove 85%) and also overwhelmingly vote for Linda Coleman, George Holding’s Democratic opponent. Among the remaining voters with high school degrees, men approve of Trump 79% to 20%…

The Undecided Voters

By Carter Wrenn September 6, 2018

Let’s look at the Undecided Voters who’ll decide George Holding’s election against Linda Coleman. Fifteen percent of the voters are undecided. They’re Republicans 40%, Democrats 22%, and Independents 38%. When asked whether they would vote for a Republican candidate or a Democratic candidate for Congress (the Generic Ballot question), 48% vote Republican, 28% vote Democrat…

Picture of Coleman, Picture of Holding

By Carter Wrenn August 31, 2018

Linda Coleman isn’t well known – her Favorable is 18% and her Unfavorable is 16%. Some Democrats know and like her but most voters don’t know who she is or where she stands on the issues they care about. In June and July, when George Holding ran ads comparing his stand for workfare and for…

Two Super PACs: A Negative Ad and a Positive Ad

By Carter Wrenn August 31, 2018

In a fallen world the ‘negative’ (the bad thing) has great power, especially in an election where voters are choosing between two candidates they dislike. For example, six years ago, President Obama didn’t win by running ads praising Obama’s accomplishments – he defeated Romney by telling voters Romney was ‘an out-of-touch billionaire.’ And remember ‘Crooked…

Three Kinds of Elections

By Carter Wrenn August 30, 2018

Well, today, I’m back to writing about George Holding’s election – which now may or may not be in November and, may or may not be in a new district. I guess we may know sometime next week. All that said, assuming wiser (legal) heads prevail and George Holding will be running in the current…

A Bombshell

By Carter Wrenn August 29, 2018

Yesterday, I was going to write about the election but, then, Federal Judge James Wynn dropped a bombshell – by ruling the current Congressional Districts are unconstitutional. The districts, he said, are a ‘partisan gerrymander.’ And have to be redrawn. Campaigns, in a way, are simple – they have one over-arching goal: To talk with…

Legislative wrecking crew

By Gary Pearce August 29, 2018

There’s nothing this legislature can’t screw up. The Constitution, redistricting, congressional elections, judicial elections – and that’s just this week. A TAPster noted, “If you had to return to your auto mechanic to correct his screwups as often as our legislators return to fix theirs, you’d get a new mechanic.” Congressional elections are in chaos,…

Getting the News

By Gary Pearce March 13, 2026

How do you get your news? Our statewide poll asked North Carolina voters what their primary…

MAGA-gator

By Gary Pearce March 12, 2026

Thom Tillis and Phil Berger fed the MAGA alligator. Then it ate them. Thomas Mills wrote…

Enough is Enough

By Gary Pearce March 11, 2026

Exactly 80 years ago, in 1946, Republicans took control of Congress with a simple message: “Had…