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 Tackles Corruption

By Carter Wrenn May 6, 2010

I meant to write this a couple of weeks ago when Governor Perdue issued her fourth proclamation to end corruption but got diverted. However, with the routines and rhythms of life returning to normal I’m picking up where I left off.   Over at Democratic Headquarters, the Governor’s latest proclamation was greeted with pure joy.…

Hard-core

By Gary Pearce May 5, 2010

A Democratic consultant pegged it mid-day Tuesday: “This is a base-vote primary.”   That’s why Elaine Marshall nearly won, Cal Cunningham disappointed and Ken Lewis did better than expected.   It has to gall Cunningham that his DSCC backing got him just 27.3 percent, just 116,000 votes. Even more galling has to be the N&O…

Obama Sets a Trap

By Carter Wrenn May 4, 2010

About the only varmint on earth these days more unpopular than a Democratic Congressman is a Wall Street banker – so to save their political hides President Obama and the Democrats in Washington have gone banker hunting.   Now, broadly speaking, Wall Street bankers have a simple theory of politics: Without regard to race, creed,…

John A.

By Gary Pearce May 4, 2010

John A. Williams, Jr., who died this week, was one of the big reasons Jim Hunt was a successful governor.   John A. looked and talked like your kindly grandfather. But he was tough as a Mafia don.   Few people remember that Hunt had a sometimes-rocky first year, especially when it came to managing…

Marshall or Cunningham?

By Gary Pearce May 3, 2010

The Democratic heavyweights in Washington who anointed Cal Cunningham – after dithering for months with Bob Etheridge – are probably sweating today. Elaine Marshall, the candidate they didn’t want to run against Richard Burr, may end up being the candidate they get.   Public Policy Polling shows her with a 28-21 lead, but it’s still…

The Star of UNC-TV

By Carter Wrenn April 30, 2010

Politicians are nothing if not creative and what they’re most creative about is making themselves look good. With the ‘Great Recession’ roaring along some politicians in state government decided paying UNC-TV to run programs to tell voters what a great job they’re doing spending money was a first rate idea.   You’d think the state’s…

Independent Minds

By Gary Pearce April 30, 2010

Here are the numbers that should scare North Carolina Democrats: 1.4 million and 47-18.   The 1.4 million is the number of voters registered unaffiliated. That’s nearly a fourth of the state’s 6.1 million registered votes.   And 47-18 is how much those independent voters favor Republicans over Democrats in legislative races this year, according…

Silly Season

By Gary Pearce April 29, 2010

At last the Democratic Senate primary gets ugly.   Usually the negatives start flying long before the final week. And it’s always the same scenario: A lagging candidate decides – or gets persuaded – to lash out at the leaders.   So it is with Ken Lewis.   He has a radio ad attacking Cal…

High Anxiety

By Gary Pearce April 28, 2010

Three headlines capture three scenarios in the Democratic Senate primary:   “Marshall looks for another statewide win in Senate primary.” (From WRAL, whose poll has her leading.)   “Dem Senate primary in North Carolina could be headed to runoff.” (From The Hill in Washington.)   “Poll: Cunningham Closes the Gap in North Carolina.” (From Congressional…

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…