Document Actions
Saturday: It's on!
posted at 2007-08-25 22:14 | Last modified 2007-11-14 10:38
The NC Association of Educators' endorsement committee voted this afternoon to back Lieutenant Governor Bev Perdue for the '08 gubernatorial race.
As I posted earlier this week, Perdue's main challenger, State Treasurer Richard Moore, had asked the NCAE to delay its endorsement process because Perdue hasn't yet officially declared her candidacy.
But NCAE President Eddie Davis didn't see a problem with it, and the NCAE's endorsement committee obviously didn't, either. The vote now goes to the NCAE's membership, where it needs (and is likely to get) at least 60% approval.
That's SO 2004
My (wonderful) editor asked me a few weeks ago whether official candidacy announcements had somehow gone out of style. After today's NCAE endorsement of someone who isn't yet officially a candidate, the answer's got to be yes.
Perdue is by no means the only non-campaign campaigner out there. In 2008, it seems, you'd better have a formidable war chest and a well-run machine before you even *think* about publicly committing yourself to any given nomination. Okay, yes, that's always been the case to some extent, but this year, it's becoming a prerequisite.
Just check out Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson. The former Tennessee senator has been playing coy with his announcement while he tries out his fundraising chops on an "exploratory committee" basis. On a pragmatic level, it makes sense - I mean, why run if you can't raise the money to put up a good fight?
But what's different about Perdue's case is that she doesn't have to prove she's a serious contender. As Lieutenant Governor, she's as close to a presumptive nominee as you're likely to get. The N&O's Rob Christensen wrote last weekend about just how deep her fundraising bench IS. So why the reticence to make it official?
Reactions
Perdue, whose NCAE endorsement shocked no one (well, she is a former teacher), sent out this email shortly after the announcement:
A scant thirteen minutes later, Richard Moore's campaign checked in:"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Perdue Earns NCAE Recommendation
Lt. Governor committed to creating “best schools and the most educated workforce in America”Raleigh, NC – The North Carolina Association of Educators’ Government Relations Committee today voted to recommend the endorsement of Lt. Governor Bev Perdue in the 2008 Democratic primary for Governor.
“As a former public school teacher, I understand the challenges facing public school teachers and education professionals,” said Perdue. “They hold the key to our children’s future, and working together I know we can create the best schools and most educated workforce in America. I am honored by the faith they have shown in me.”
The Government Relations Committee recommendation now goes to the full North Carolina Association of Educators for their official endorsement. The NCAE represents 70,000 members including educators, administrators, education support personnel, students and retired teachers and is one of the most meaningful endorsements early in the Democratic primary.
Perdue is widely considered to be one the most accomplished champions of North Carolina’s public schools. As a legislator and Lt. Governor, she has helped create many of the most successful reforms that have earned national acclaim for North Carolina’s schools." [...etc., snip.]
"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2007
Statement from the Richard Moore Committee on the NCAE endorsement
“Endorsing a candidate who has yet to announce she’s even running for governor, smacks of backroom deals and ‘good old boy’ politics. Had Beverly Perdue put as much effort into delivering on her promise to raise teacher pay to the national average as she did into staging this political endorsement, our kids would be better off.”
-from Jay Reiff, campaign manager
The Richard Moore Committee"
Well, all right, then. So much for the politesse of subtle sniping. This primary is SO on.
Comments? Drop me a line.
& Newsletters
