Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
The world up and moved on its axis yesterday morning while I was listening to National Public Radio. It started innocently enough. Cokie Roberts was talking about her two books, Ladies of Liberty and Founding Mothers, when a lady called in to thank her for recognizing the ignored Female Founders of our nation – then…
Here are some numbers worth pondering as you ponder this year’s elections in North Carolina. On May 6, 1.58 million people voted in the Democratic presidential primary. That’s more than the 1.52 million who voted for John Kerry and John Edwards here in November 2004. Thanks to this year’s registration surge, there are now 2.6…
I had an argument with my friend the pollster. I told him – in no uncertain terms – Barack Obama’s a rerun of George McGovern, Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis. And said, We’ve seen this story before. The Democrats fall in love, young people swoon, then the day after the election they wake up and…
The Wake County Manager’s trying to hold the line on spending – but he’s getting no sympathy from the School Board. He offered to increase the school’s budget more than any other local government agency – but the School Board told him to take a hike. That just won’t cut the mustard; it wants another…
Given that this should be a Democratic year and that Democrats have won the last four Governor’s races, it is surprising that early polls show the Governor’s race essentially tied. The polls may be underestimating the African-American vote. Early polls often show Democrats getting only 60-70 percent of that vote. But they always end up…
Cancer felled Hamilton Jordan and was found in Ted Kennedy the same day. Everybody knows Kennedy. But how many know Jordan – and his connection with Kennedy? Before Karl Rove, James Carville and Lee Atwater, Jordan – pronounced Jer-dan – was the original modern Southern-fried political operative. He was the strategic genius behind Jimmy Carter’s…
The N&O pointed out that The New York Times may be a tad premature in touting Bev Perdue’s national prospects. But if Hillary Clinton does not become the first woman President – now or in four years or in eight years – there is a good chance a North Carolina woman will be. Here’s why:…
Now that the Democratic presidential race is all but over, everybody’s attention turns to running mates. Will Obama pick Clinton? Or Edwards? Or Rendell, to carry Pennsylvania? Or Richardson, to appeal to Hispanics? Or does it matter? Myth has it that running mates deliver states – or constituent groups. But John Edwards didn’t make North…
Jerry Allegood’s retirement after 35 years at The News & Observer is bad news. Bad news for Eastern North Carolina, which used to be the N&O’s focus. Now the paper is all about Wake County. Bad news because Allegood is a pro and a great guy. And bad news for people like me who can…
Carter Wrenn and I are moving to Substack. That’s where you’ll find our blogs in the…
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…