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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Bev’s Money

By Gary Pearce February 2, 2012

Among the people maddest at Governor Perdue are those who gave money to her campaign  – especially big money when she was putting on a big push recently.   She hasn’t decided what to do with the million-plus she has. Give it back? Give it to charity?   Here’s an idea: turn the money over…

McCrory’s Needle is Stuck

By Gary Pearce February 1, 2012

Pat McCrory’s announcement statement showed that he hasn’t figured out how this campaign has changed.   McCrory has spent four years running against Bev Perdue. Now he’s like Wiley Coyote running over the cliff: his legs are still pumping but there’s nothing underneath him anymore.   To switch metaphors, he’s signing the same old song.…

A Sign

By Carter Wrenn January 31, 2012

The two things that matter most in a political campaign are being right with the Lord and money. Today, candidates in the Republican Primary for Congress in the 13th District filed their year-end FEC reports. They showed total income for each campaign:   George Holding: $462,500. Paul Coble: $135,200.   Now, before I go any…

Talking ’bout Two Generations

By Gary Pearce January 31, 2012

Last week I was literally at sea – on a cruise. For the last 48 hours, I’ve been immersed in the stormy seas of Democratic politics.   The first thing that struck me is the generational divide.   Many older Democrats (i.e. – older than me) see Perdue’s decision as a potential disaster and Erskine…

Don’t Run, Erskine

By Gary Pearce January 31, 2012

Prediction: Erskine Bowles won’t run. Suggestion: He shouldn’t.   Yesterday I gave Laura Leslie and Rob Christensen all the reasons Erskine would be a great governor. The problem is that he’s a terrible candidate. Even he has admitted: “I have empirical data that I was a terrible politician.”   He has proven it twice. That…

Quitting Time

By Gary Pearce January 30, 2012

In politics, you’re never beaten until you give up. Governor Perdue is now officially beaten.   She proclaims she’ll keep fighting and she’s no lame duck. She apparently gave a rousing speech to the Sanford-Hunt-Frye dinner. Still, she’s laying down her sword and walking off the field of battle.   No doubt she feels beat…

Back in Port

By Gary Pearce January 30, 2012

I’m just back from a week-long cruise to the western Caribbean – Grand Cayman, Honduras and Mexico. Did I miss anything?   I’ll be catching up and weighing in. Plenty of material from last week!   Thanks to Luther Snyder, Nation Hahn and the anonymous bloggers for their great contributions last week. They set a…

Want to win the Governor’s race? Learn social media.

By nationhahn January 27, 2012

With Governor Perdue’s announcement that she will not seek reelection the North Carolina political landscape has shuffled quickly. As of today, candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor (with Walter Dalton’s entry into the Governor’s race) have 107 days to raise money, reach voters, and win a statewide primary. This compressed schedule is unprecedented in North…

Follow the Logic

By Carter Wrenn January 26, 2012

Explaining that his chances of winning reelection look dim, this morning Democratic Congressman Brad Miller announced he will not run.   About an hour later Governor Beverly Perdue explained that, because the one thing she cares most about is schoolchildren (who, she added, are victims of Republican legislators cutting spending), she’s not running either.  …

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…