Yesterday two reporters asked me if the riots in Charlotte were going to have a ‘political impact.’  On the radio, while driving to work, I’d heard about the riots but hadn’t read any news reports and didn’t know the answer—then last night at home I turned on the television and the second night of riots was on every news channel.

This morning another reporter called and said, The Trump people are saying the riots will help Trump. Do you agree?

After watching television last night, I had no doubt the Charlotte riots will have, as Donald Trump would say, a huge impact on political campaigns in North Carolina.  But how they change Governor McCrory’s race against Roy Cooper, or Donald Trump’s against Hillary Clinton, will depend on each candidate’s judgement.

I can’t recall the last time we had riots and looting North Carolina, so this morning I’m sitting here wondering, Why did this happen?

Voters – or, more precisely, swing voters – are going to want to know the answer to that question and they’re going to watch what the Governor says and does, compare it to what Roy Cooper says and does, and decide who has sound judgment.

The same is true of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. If Mr. Trump speaks with judgment instead of political hyperbole – well, judgment matters right now. On the other hand, if Trump pours gas on the fire – that will matter too.

The same standard will apply, even more, to Governor McCrory and Roy Cooper.