Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
You can count on two perennial stories at this stage in the election cycle: (1) stories about the latest polls and (2) denunciations of all the stories about the latest polls. Frank Bruni wrote in The New York Times (“Our insane addiction to polls”), “I’d say that we’re in a period of polling bloat, but…
From President to state legislature, every campaign is debating this question right now: When do we start? Specifically, when do we start attacking – or “contrasting with” – our opponent? Eighty percent of campaigns will follow the counsel of the loudest and scaredest voice in the room, which is usually: Wait. That voice says, “It’s…
It’s hands-down the most uplifting ad of many a year. Is it reason enough to vote for Bernie Sanders? The Sanders campaign’s 60-second ad “America” was described by CNN as “so full of love, enthusiasm and patriotic uplift (complete with flag-waving) that it’s downright goose bump-inducing.” It is that. Some people even said on social…
We’re not fighting each other like the Republicans are – yet. But insults are flying on social media. Bad feelings are growing. And the voting hasn’t even started. Bias alert: I’m for Hillary. Her heart and mind are in the right place. She is by far the most able and qualified candidate of either party…
Let’s agree (as he says about himself in his book) Donald Trump is the master of The Art of the Deal. He’s not just a billionaire with a penchant for checking out his reflection whenever he walks past a mirror or sees himself on TV – he’s a cunning (and brilliant) maker of deals. And,…
As newspapers slowly decline, we newshawks have to hunt for food. If we want both sides, we have to hunt around. And the pickings are plentiful, if not wholly satisfying. On the left, you’ve got Policy Watch. On the right, there’s the Daily Haymaker. If you want the McCrory line, you go straight to Jones &…
Ted Cruz thought he zinged Donald Trump good when he accused him of “New York values.” But one New York value that Trump has mastered is the put-down. Carter noted how Trump’s spot-on zingers buried Jeb Bush (“low energy”) and burned Cruz (“he’s a nasty guy”). Now The New York Times reports that Trump’s jibes…
I wish just once when we do one of these prisoner exchanges the math would work out. We traded five terrorists to the Taliban for one American (Bowe Bergdhal). And traded seven Iranians for four Americans. It’s irrational but, just once, I’d like the math to be five to four in our favor. Or even…
It’s not just that our nation is divided. Both parties are divided. The Democrats’ division is generational. The Republicans’ division is personal. One party’s insurgency comes from the left; the other, from the right. One is young vs. old; the other, inside vs. outside. Both come from a deep well of fear and loathing about…
North Carolina voters don’t like either the Democratic or Republican parties. But Independent voters – who…
How do you get your news? Our statewide poll asked North Carolina voters what their primary…
Thom Tillis and Phil Berger fed the MAGA alligator. Then it ate them. Thomas Mills wrote…