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Friday: Republican Recap
posted at 2008-01-18 23:56 | Last modified 2008-01-21 20:32
Just a few days ago, it looked like the Perdue-Moore contest would be the hot contest for the governor’s seat this year. That’s not so clear after last night’s Republican debate.
Don’t get me wrong – the GOP guys didn’t even get close to the Dems’ level of personal rancor last week. But for the first time, they really mixed it up, thanks to the entrance of Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory.
You can hear my (short) story on it here. You can even watch the whole thing at WRAL.com. But if you’re looking for the Cliff’s Notes version…
Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory:
Pros: Really well-prepared, navigated the discussion format well, and came off looking experienced, calm, and ready to lead. He handled everything that was thrown at him with detailed answers and examples from his time as Mayor. Plus, he kept his notorious temper under control, didn’t get impatient, and didn’t get rattled (or didn’t show it) when the other candidates went after him.
Cons: The ability to work with Democrats is great in the general election, but it may do more harm than good with the GOP base. If this gubernatorial primary is anything like the last two, the Republicans who show up will be a lot more interested in conservative credentials than bipartisan appeal. And about that transfer transit tax…
Verdict: He won this round, but may need to refocus to survive the primary.
State Senator Fred Smith:
Pros: Came out of the corner swinging. He used far fewer buzzwords and a lot more detail than before in talking about how he’d run the state. He was engaged, confident, and tough – the most overtly conservative guy on stage, which is pretty much what it takes to win a GOP primary in NC. (see above)
Cons: The roundtable format is not his forte. He’s much better at orating behind a podium than at engaging his opponents eye-to-eye. He came off as overeager, angry, even truculent, as he went after McCrory and Graham time after time. On the other hand, you can’t fault him for his fightin’ mood, given the polls that showed him losing ground to McCrory before the latter even entered the race.
Verdict: Viewers that already liked Fred Smith now love him. Viewers that didn’t probably still don't.
Former state Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr:
Pros: Still the most positive candidate, especially on education. He’s the only candidate to land a punch that got a visible rise out of McCrory – the “weak mayor” argument. Plus, he had the best line of the night – a hacker joke. And Rob Christensen says he looks the most gubernatorial. (Who’s gonna argue with that one?)
Cons: As far as his own message goes, it wasn’t his best night. Got lost in the shuffle, and within his own answers, too, sometimes, lacking specifics on how he'd implement his long-term ideas. And with McCrory’s entry, he’s no longer the only positive candidate. In fact, he may have a lot in common with McCrory, especially in terms of policy, which could make it tough for Orr to hold onto the small niche he's managed to carve out for himself.
Verdict: Probably the smartest guy in the field, but still not the most electable.
Salisbury attorney/gas-tax activist Bill Graham:
Pros: Did an excellent job of staying out of the McCrory bashfest and sticking to his own message. Far fewer iffy stats and buzzwords, a lot more detail about his plans for change. Made the most of the camera time he got.
Cons: Pretty much disappeared in the shadow of the drama between McCrory and Smith. Probably didn’t pick up much new support, thanks to his negativity. If life in NC was that bad, we wouldn’t need the new roads he wants to build, because everyone would be moving away, not in. Then there was his solution to drought: not conservation or policy changes, but consumer “watermaking technology” that’s “been available for several years.” (For a minute there, I thought I was watching Dune. Or maybe Living with Ed. )
Verdict: Rob Christensen says he won. I’m not sure I understand why.
Comments? Drop me a line.
