People from Charlotte are obsessed with the so-called Charlotte Curse: the repeated failures of Charlotte mayors to be elected to statewide office: Eddie Knox, Harvey Gantt, Sue Myrick and Richard Vinroot.

There is no curse – at least among voters. Poll after poll has shown they don’t mind a candidate from Charlotte.

But there is one way many Charlotte candidates – especially mayors – are cursed: their own arrogance. That’s how Pat McCrory’s campaign looks right now.

After a long build-up, McCrory repeatedly stumbled out of the gate – from misspelling “Governer” and blaming a mystery hacker to fumbling questions in debates.

Apparently, like others before him, McCrory figured that since he’d been elected Mayor he and his team knew all there was to know about getting elected Governor.

Wrong. It’s like going from Southern Conference basketball to the ACC.

McCrory is trying to fix his campaign. That’s why he hired Jack Hawke. But unless I’m wrong, Jack is a lot like me: not eager to disrupt his good life with his grandkids here and move down to Charlotte and work 24/7 – which is what it’s going to take to cure this patient.

If Fred Smith had been spending his money on TV ads instead of BBQ, he’d be running away with the GOP race now.

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