Terry Sanford Would Be Proud
The first presidential primary I voted in was 1972. Terry Sanford, the champion of the New South, was running against George Wallace, back when Wallace was still a died-in-the-wool segregationist.
Wallace humiliated Sanford in his home state, effectively ending Terry’s chances of being the moderate Southern elected President in the 1970s, instead of Jimmy Carter.
On Tuesday, Terry’s North Carolina all but clinched the nomination of the first African-American nominee for President.
Race has hardly disappeared from politics. Winning a primary – or even the nomination – is a far cry from winning in November. Obama has a long, tough road ahead.
In North Carolina, we know how long and tough that road is. But we know how far we have come. And we know how much we owe to Sanford.
So if you’re inclined to toast the Old North State for what happened Tuesday, hoist one in honor of Terry.
Terry Sanford Would Be Proud
The first presidential primary I voted in was 1972. Terry Sanford, the champion of the New South, was running against George Wallace, back when Wallace was still a died-in-the-wool segregationist.
Wallace humiliated Sanford in his home state, effectively ending Terry’s chances of being the moderate Southern elected President in the 1970s, instead of Jimmy Carter.
On Tuesday, Terry’s North Carolina all but clinched the nomination of the first African-American nominee for President.
Race has hardly disappeared from politics. Winning a primary – or even the nomination – is a far cry from winning in November. Obama has a long, tough road ahead.
In North Carolina, we know how long and tough that road is. But we know how far we have come. And we know how much we owe to Sanford.
So if you’re inclined to toast the Old North State for what happened Tuesday, hoist one in honor of Terry.