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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The New Leader in Iowa…

By Carter Wrenn December 21, 2011

Newt Gingrich’s ship seems to have landed on the rocks – nationally, the Gallop poll reports, Speaker Gingrich has plummeted from 37% to 26% of the vote and in Iowa the news is even worse: The latest poll shows Newt’s dropped out of first place.   With so much bad news piling up Newt let…

Newt and the Judges

By Carter Wrenn December 21, 2011

He’s fed up with elitist judges, Newt says, so as President he’s just going to ignore their rulings. And what’s more, he adds, as a historian he knows that Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln would agree with him.   Of course, the press pounced, immediately, asking, So, if President Newt can ignore court rulings –…

Republican Waves

By Gary Pearce December 21, 2011

If you looked at a chart tracking the Republican presidential race, you would see a series of waves rising and falling.   First you’d see the Michelle Bachman wave rise and fall. Then the Rick Perry wave – again, rise and fall. Same for Herman Cain.   Now Newt Gingrich has been on the rise…

Faison’s Face-off

By Gary Pearce December 20, 2011

Let me get this straight.   According to Rob Christensen’s story today, Bill Faison ran for Democratic state party chair last year at the request of Governor Perdue.   Two possibilities: One, Faison is an ingrate for publicly questioning whether Perdue will or should run for reelection – or, two, Perdue cannily spotted a potential…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…