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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Posting Pictures

By Carter Wrenn March 21, 2016

Last Monday, the day before the Presidential Primary, Congresswoman Renee Ellmers spent the day campaigning and tweeting and posting photographs of herself (speaking at events) on Facebook then returned home to Dunn for the night. Up in Washington, the same night, the House voted on a resolution condemning ISIS for committing genocide against Christians –…

Obama’s pickoff play

By Gary Pearce March 17, 2016

President Obama’s Supreme Court move was brilliant. He put Senate Republicans in a box the very day they faced up to the prospect of a Trump electoral disaster in November. The Republicans can either confirm Merrick Garland, a mild and moderate choice by most accounts, or they can take their chances on the next President’s…

A hateful election

By Gary Pearce March 16, 2016

Barack Obama’s 2008 election was about hope. This one will be about hate. Two savvy political veterans, a Republican and a Democrat, agreed this week on one thing: a Trump-Clinton race will bring us historic levels of negativity, bitterness and, yes, hate. The Democrat added, “Hate is a greater motivator than love. It could be…

Bernie, Donald and Our Depression

By Gary Pearce March 15, 2016

Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump are wildly different, but weirdly alike. Sanders was a wild-haired radical who became a white-haired “Democratic socialist” and is roiling the Democratic establishment. Trump was a weird-haired excess symbol who became a reality TV star and is running roughshod over the Republican establishment. Both are buoyed by blue-collar voters who feel screwed…

A Poll: George Holding vs. Renee Ellmers

By Carter Wrenn March 15, 2016

When George Holding first ran for Congress, I wrote a series of reports about how campaigns are built day to day. Now, four years later, George has a primary with Congresswoman Renee Ellmers and I’m going to do the same thing again. I should point out, at the beginning, I’m not unbiased. I worked with…

Clinton feels the Bern

By Gary Pearce March 14, 2016

Hillary Clinton may have a nearly 20-point lead in the latest PPP North Carolina poll, but she and Bernie Sanders are both fighting hard here – and coming here on the last day. Why? Because our delegates divvy up this way: 70 allocated by congressional district, 23 to the statewide winner and 28 “PLEOs” (party…

Behind the bickering

By Gary Pearce March 12, 2016

Here’s an idea for the North Carolina Leadership Forum that Rob Christensen wrote about this week. The Forum is a group of prominent leaders from both sides of the political aisle. Rob described its mission this way: “Why not get North Carolinians of all political stripes together to have conversations, to better understand one another’s…

Trump TV

By Gary Pearce March 11, 2016

We’re told Donald Trump’s appeal is “strength.” But twice this week unforgiving cameras showed what really lies beneath: weakness or even, shall we say, impotence. In Fayetteville, a white Trump supporter punched a black protestor. The attacker said, “The next time we see him, we might have to kill him.” Protest must be punished. Dissenters…

A Poll: George Holding vs. Renee Ellmers

By Carter Wrenn March 11, 2016

When George Holding first ran for Congress, I wrote a series of reports about how campaigns are built day to day. Now, four years later, George has a primary with Congresswoman Renee Ellmers and I’m going to do the same thing again. I should point out, at the beginning, I’m not unbiased. I worked with…

Independents Turn Against GOP

By Gary Pearce March 17, 2026

North Carolina voters don’t like either the Democratic or Republican parties. But Independent voters – who…

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…