Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
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…
John Edwards’ political timing throughout his career has been both astute and atrocious. Running in 1998 was brilliant. It was an off-year. Lauch Faircloth was a vulnerable incumbent and the perfect foil for a young, fresh opponent. The Clinton-impeachment mess in Washington was the perfect environment for a political outsider. After that, his timing was…
Ferrel Guillory, the director of the Program on Public Life at UNC, made a penetrating observation the other day. We were talking about Hillary Clinton’s focus on white working class voters – and the resultant media obsession on the same. Clinton argues, essentially, that Obama can’t win in November because he can’t get working-class whites.…
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…
A reassuring lesson from our trip to Germany and Czechia is that dictators, despots and tyrants…