Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
These days it seems I’m immersed in the world of TV ads and time buying but it’s that time of the year for campaigns, when a candidate with two shekels to rub together is trying to figure out whether to spend them on TV or radio or, heaven forbid, yard signs. The words ‘time…
Several Democratic readers responded to yesterday’s blog, “School Choice.” One wrote: “Our message should be, ‘Reform and Invest’.” Another said: “Schools need BOTH reform & investment. Any politician who preaches reform w/out resources is just using reform as a fig leaf.” A third said Pat McCrory’s education plan “is things Perdue/Easley/Hunt already did or…
For all the millions of dollars and words expended, elections always come down to simple choices that can be captured in a few words. In the governor’s race, it looks like the choice will come down to Pat McCrory’s “fix the problems” versus the Democrat’s “invest in education.” That could be a disastrous framing…
Public Policy Polling has found that people are confused about the marriage amendment: “Oh, it covers civil unions, too?” Plus, it’s so badly worded it could end up hurting widowed seniors and even victims of domestic abuse. Let’s simplify this message. Just tell people to vote NO. A no vote is always easier…
Sometimes politicians are just plain silly. This morning it appears Paul Coble woke up in a pique and right off ripped off an email lighting into George Holding. “George Holding” Coble wrote, “doesn’t smile much. But $214,000 in hard, cold special interest cash has him smiling like the Cheshire car – ear to…
Pat McCroryâs much-ballyhooed education platform reads like a compilation of every cliché and buzzword of the last three decades. This tweet from the McCrory campaign especially struck me: â3rd grade is a critical year for reading. We are not doing our children favors by socially promoting them to 4th grade.â Right you are,…
Win or lose in the Supreme Court, President Obama has already lost in the court of public opinion. Polls show that two-thirds of Americans want at least some of Obamacare repealed. If he loses the election in November, he’ll always wonder why he staked his presidency on an idea he opposed in 2008: the…
There’s a whiff of Mitt Romney about Thom Tillis. Witness his prediction that the gay-marriage amendment, which he supports, will be repealed in 20 years. Was he playing to a college crowd? Once again signaling he’s not really comfortable with the right-wing social issues? Or was it a classic political gaffe – when you…
The TAPster who wrote the blog below reflects what several Democrats have said privately about Bob Etheridge. If Bob’s campaign or a supporter will respond, I’ll post it. “For the sake of Democrats everywhere in North Carolina, Bobby Etheridge must step aside. “He needs to leave the governor’s race to someone who has…
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…
Exactly 80 years ago, in 1946, Republicans took control of Congress with a simple message: “Had…