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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I love October now

By Gary Pearce October 22, 2018

I hated October when I worked in campaigns. It was the worst month. You were already dead tired when October got here. Then things got worse. Busier, crazier and more stressful. Ask anybody in a campaign how they’re doing in October, and they all say: “I’ll just be glad when it’s over.” You count down…

Move on

By Gary Pearce October 19, 2018

Does Trump (“Tiny”) really think it’s right to get in a Twitter fight with a porn star (“Horseface”)? Does Mitch McConnell (“Turtle”) really think it’s right to say the deficit is so big (thanks to Republican tax cuts) that Congress has to cut Social Security and Medicare? Does Elizabeth Warren (“Pocahontas”) really think it’s right…

They’re cooperating!!

By Gary Pearce October 16, 2018

The Raleigh political world is abuzz and agog! The legislature and the Governor are cooperating! Democrats and Republicans are working together on hurricane relief!! Oh, happy day!!! Has a new age dawned? Have we entered an era of bipartisanship, brotherly love and dogs and cats living together? Not so fast, my friend. Pardon my cynicism,…

Mad Men

By Gary Pearce October 1, 2018

Just as Hurricane Florence upended the Carolinas, Hurricane Kavanaugh has upended the 2018 elections. Will there be a blue wave? Or will it look like that NASA photo of dark and dirty waters flooding into the ocean after Florence? It comes down to who is maddest. Is it women (and men who support them) energized…

A Teaching Moment

By Gary Pearce September 27, 2018

I believe Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. How can you not? Her testimony was powerful, persuasive and painful. She clearly was traumatized by what Brett Kavanaugh did to her. Her life was derailed. And now she has to go through this. If Republicans stick with Kavanaugh, they have only one way to go: “Well, what a…

Disaster politics

By Gary Pearce September 24, 2018

Governor Cooper excelled at his first three tasks in the wake of Florence: command (resources), communicate (be safe) and comfort (we’re with you for the long haul). Now comes the long haul. And politics. And bureaucracy – federal, state and local. And inevitable human frustration at the pace of relief. Nearly 20 years ago, after…

The worst of times, the best of people

By Gary Pearce September 17, 2018

The worst times bring out the best in us. Before we go back to bashing each other over politics, let’s salute all those who rose to Florence. Salute first the responders who are always there first. Salute the thousands of volunteers who saved lives (human and animal), served meals and succored those in need. Salute…

The Gathering Storm

By Gary Pearce September 11, 2018

Carter once said a wave election is like a hurricane. You know it’s coming. But you don’t know if it’ll be a Category 1 or a 5. And you don’t know if it’ll hit Wilmington or Nags Head – or everywhere. We’ve got a big one coming at us now. We’ll worry about the election…

The Election, a Summary

By Carter Wrenn September 10, 2018

This year, after four elections with Obama in the White House, the political world has changed. We’re in a Blue Moon election where Democrats are voting heavier than usual and where Republican voter turnout is likely to be lower than usual. Independents blame both Republicans and Democrats for the political mess in Washington and, back…

Obama 48-Trump 39

By Gary Pearce April 26, 2026

A new nationwide poll shows that, if they could run against each other in 2028, Barack…

“Conservative Successes”?

By Gary Pearce April 23, 2026

Senator Phil Berger was out of touch with voters in his district – and suffered the…

Rise and Fall

By Gary Pearce April 21, 2026

A reassuring lesson from our trip to Germany and Czechia is that dictators, despots and tyrants…