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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Justin Guillory Responds

By Gary Pearce April 27, 2012

Following is Justin’s response to my blog (see below) about his N&O op-ed:   “Thanks for taking an interest in my op-ed. Here is my take on your questions:   “First, I disagree that progressive politics are not business friendly. The current Republican leadership has taken us so far to the right that we need…

Another Day, Another Scandal

By Gary Pearce April 27, 2012

It certainly didn’t take the Republicans long to pick up where Jim Black left off.   Democrats can have a field day: “The Speaker’s chief of staff, roommate and best friend had a romantic relationship with a lobbyist who had legislation before the House.”   They can ask: “What did the Speaker know and when…

Democrats: New Generation or New Direction?

By Gary Pearce April 26, 2012

Justin Guillory’s op-ed in the N&O – “Embrace the future, North Carolina Democrats” – struck a theme you hear a lot these days from young Democrats:   “The major upheaval in the Democratic ranks provides a unique window of opportunity for the party to turn over a new page and choose its next generation of…

A $3 Million Problem

By Gary Pearce April 26, 2012

Whoever wakes up May 9 as the Democratic nominee for governor will immediately face an insurmountable obstacle.   Pat McCrory is sitting on $3.1 million, John Franks reports in Dome. That’s precisely $3.1 million more than the Democratic nominee will have that day.   It will be impossible to make up the gap.   Now, in politics…

Needed: A Manhattan Project

By Gary Pearce April 25, 2012

The all-but-certain presidential nominee emerges from his party’s primaries bruised and bloodied. He was mocked relentlessly as a flip-flopper and a panderer, a career politician with no inner core, a former governor with little to brag about. The brutal march to the nomination drove his favorability ratings into the ground.   He faces an incumbent…

Uh-Oh

By Gary Pearce April 25, 2012

The last time I paid attention to internal Democratic Party politics was during Governor Hunt’s first two terms, when the party had chairs and executive directors like Betty McCain and David Price.   Ah, the good old days.   This week I asked a young friend who is involved in the party now: “Who are the…

The Golden Rule

By Gary Pearce April 24, 2012

Here’s the Golden Rule of Politics: “Them that has the gold (to buy TV time) rule.” So it is with the Democratic governor’s race.   Bob Etheridge had a lead in initial polls. I thought he won the debates. But Walter Dalton is winning where it counts: on TV ads.   Public Policy Polling reports…

The 3 Percent Mystery

By Gary Pearce April 24, 2012

A TAPster asks a pertinent question about the CBS/New York Times poll that found John Edwards’ favorable rating at 3 percent: “Who in the hell are the 3 percent?”

Doing Business

By Gary Pearce April 24, 2012

Is Bill Faison the business community’s favorite in the Democratic race for Governor?   One well-wired lobbyist thinks so.   Why? Isn’t Faison a trial lawyer, a species viewed with fear and loathing by business people?   Simple. If Faison wins the nomination, the business community “could put all their efforts into McCrory.” They owe…

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…

Enough is Enough

By Gary Pearce March 11, 2026

Exactly 80 years ago, in 1946, Republicans took control of Congress with a simple message: “Had…