Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
Every time I’ve handicapped the presidential race, I’ve warned about X Factors – big events out of anybody’s control that can sway elections. A big one exploded in the Middle East last night. A foreign policy crisis in September is a huge X Factor. It dominates the news. It challenges the incumbent. And it…
Read MoreThe convention gave President Obama a surge (possibly short-lived) in polls and fundraising. But he’s got another edge that won’t be short-lived: a “fired up and ready to go” ground game and the technology to make it go. The Obama campaign has spent years and millions upon millions of dollars building it. They have…
Read MoreThe convention gave President Obama a surge (possibly short-lived) in polls and fundraising. But he’s got another edge that won’t be short-lived: a “fired up and ready to go” ground game and the technology to make it go. The Obama campaign has spent years and millions upon millions of dollars building it. They have…
Read MoreMitt Romney must think his campaign is in serious trouble. Why else would he promise to keep some of Obamacare and not cut taxes for the wealthy? Two 180s in one 30-minute talk show! How long will it take before the Tea Party forces him to re-retreat? There is a great irony at…
Read MoreAfter Governor Hunt’s speech to the Democratic convention Wednesday night, a Facebook friend said it was “classy” for him to start by talking about Terry Sanford. I’m glad Hunt did it. What a shame it would have been if Terry Sanford hadn’t been honored at a Democratic convention in North Carolina. So pardon…
Read MoreBill Clinton teed the ball up and drew a laser-beam-line from the ball to the target for President Obama but then Obama walked right past tee, ball and target to make a speech with the same old same old litany of promises ending with promises of hope. This election there’re three different ‘worlds’ in…
Read MoreBill Clinton won the Olympic Gold for oratory, Democrats won the conventions and President Obama enters the final two months with a stronger posse and better positioning than Mitt Romney. Obama’s speech left some supporters feeling like Lynyrd Skynyrd fans who didn’t get to hear “Freebird.” The lift and lilt of 2004 and 2008…
Read MoreThis blog is also posted on The Charlotte Observer’s DNC blog site. Gary, I’m guessing you slept very well last night and woke up this morning with a smile on your face. If I had a lick of sense I’d hang out a sign today that says “Gone Fishing” instead of writing about Bill…
Read MoreBill Clinton gave this campaign three things it hadn’t seen so far: substance, civility and good old Southern country-boy wit and charm. It was a powerful combination – and a tutorial in political communications. Where Tampa Republicans spewed venom and vitriol at President Obama, Clinton treated his opponents with kindness, courtesy and respect. Then…
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