Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
“WOWW” stands for “Where Obama Went Wrong.” Beginning today, I will present various theories I have heard from Democrats. Then I will unveil my own super-secret, foolproof answer. Obama’s theory – articulated by him before the election and by several Democrats since – is that he “got the policy right and the politics wrong.”…
Republican legislators say they’ll balance the state budget by combing through every item. Now comes Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler – a Republican. The Greensboro News & Record reports that he “says there’s nowhere left to cut in his department and he has refused to give Gov. Bev Perdue recommendations on where to cut…
Governor Perdue faces a critical policy and political choice. The media is focused on what the new Republican legislature will do to balance the budget. But the Governor has to make the first move. She proposes the budget. And the course she takes could decide whether she becomes North Carolina’s first one-term…
First Carter and Renee Ellmers go to war with Washington Republicans over funding her recount fight. Then Republicans begin jockeying for legislative leadership positions. It proves the truth of James Carville’s old age: “Transitions are when you stop fighting your enemies and start fighting your friends.” Except he used a more colorful…
North Carolina Democrats have survived three near-death elections: 1972, 1984 and 1994. But will 2010 be the one when the dam finally breaks and we go the way of the rest of the South? Some smart Democrats here think so. They see a decade – or more – of Republican dominance ahead. They believe…
The great thing about political blogging is that the game never ends. For the next two months, we get to watch the positioning for the legislative session. Governor Perdue’s first statement got it right: We need to work together in a time of economic and fiscal crisis. But she’ll have conflicting advice. Move…
Election night, after the ten counties in her district reported their votes, Renee Ellmers led incumbent Congressman Bob Etheridge by 2,100 votes. (That number is crucial because under North Carolina law Congressman Etheridge is not entitled to an ‘automatic recount’ if he trails by more than 1% – or 1,888 votes.) Then the afternoon…
Tom Fetzer stole the stage – literally – from Pat McCrory Tuesday night. McCrory had what seemed like a prime spot: introducing Senator Burr for his victory speech. But Fetzer was front and center in the photos and video of the bigger story: Republicans taking the legislature. Fetzer is in prime position…
That old warhorse Carter pulled off another one. He’s had a history of guiding Republican Senate – and now congressional – candidates to unexpected victories: John East, Jesse Helms, Lauch Faircloth and, now, Renee Ellmers. He’ll be the first to tell you that it was, first and foremost, the national tide. But…
The political sniping began even as chaos still reigned at the White House Correspondents Dinner. My…
A new nationwide poll shows that, if they could run against each other in 2028, Barack…
Senator Phil Berger was out of touch with voters in his district – and suffered the…