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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Perdue’s Prospects

By Gary Pearce December 19, 2011

Governor Perdue had to hate reading the N&O this morning.   First there’s a front-page story regurgitating her flight problems, with a boost from Democratic scold Joe Sinsheimer. Then Dome quotes a professor from his perch at UVA opining about her tough path to reelection.    This is why Democrats are wringing their hands about…

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Newt vs. Newt

By Gary Pearce December 16, 2011

A Republican friend says there is only one person who can beat Newt Gingrich now: Newt Gingrich. And he’s perfectly capable of it.   Tom Fetzer’s decision to lead Newt’s campaign in North Carolina shows how unhappy conservatives are with one-time frontrunner Mitt Romney.   Mitt’s just too moderate. And for some Republicans, too Mormon.…

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I Stand Corrected

By Gary Pearce December 14, 2011

In response to a question recently, I blogged that Jim Hunt (1972 Lieutenant Governor’s race) was the last male candidate to defeat a woman in a Democratic primary.   Wrong.   It was Erskine Bowles, who defeated – among others – Elaine Marshall in 2002.   This is courtesy of my friend John Hood with…

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Faison’s Social Media

By Gary Pearce December 13, 2011

Recently I took a shot at Rep. Bill Faison for taking a shot at Governor Perdue – one that I thought hurt him as much as her.   Today – in an effort to be fair and balanced, as they say on Fox – I rise to praise him.   Few figures in North Carolina…

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Mitt and Newt?

By Gary Pearce December 12, 2011

This is it? This is the best Republicans can do?   They’re about to fumble away what should be an open-field run to the White House.   Case in point: An NBC/Marist poll this weekend shows President Obama leading both Republicans in South Carolina. I repeat: South Carolina.    Maybe Rob Christensen is right and…

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A Jim Hunt Legacy

By Gary Pearce December 9, 2011

There is a big story behind this small item in the paper this week:   “North Carolina’s public schools have the largest number of National Board Certified teachers in the nation, according to a release by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.” Nationally, there are 97,291 teachers with National Board Certification.  North Carolina has over…

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Memory Lane

By Gary Pearce December 8, 2011

A fan of Tricia Cotham – no doubt looking ahead to a potential Superintendent of Public Instruction primary with Rick Glazier – asks: “When was the last time a male candidate defeated a female in a Democratic primary in North Carolina?”   To my recollection – and, as usual, doing no research whatsoever – I…

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The Gov’s New Voice

By Gary Pearce December 8, 2011

A Tapster is mystified by Governor Perdue’s hiring of a new communications director, Jon Romano:    “A governor who is struggling desperately to remain relevant and communicate clearly made another puzzling move this week.   “Governor Bev Perdue hired a new communications expert who’s a former Bostonian politico whose only apparent ties to the state…

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How Obama Wins

By Gary Pearce December 7, 2011

Two reasons: the speech he gave this week and his record.   In 2008, Obama had a gift for giving exactly the right speech at exactly the right campaign moment. He did it again yesterday with his speech echoing Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal (Click here for the full text):   “I believe that this country…

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The N&O Story

By Gary Pearce March 12, 2025

Once upon a time, there was a great and powerful newspaper: The News & Observer. Everybody…

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How Democrats Win Again

By Gary Pearce March 10, 2025

The shouting, sign-waving and cane-wielding by congressional Democrats at the State of the Union isn’t a…

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Deborah Ross’ Rx

By Gary Pearce March 7, 2025

Curmudgeonly Cajun James Carville says Democrats just need to “roll over and play dead” and wait…

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