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Wed.: Now THAT's a race!
posted at 2008-02-20 22:48 | Last modified 2008-02-21 00:44
Today’s PPP gubernatorial tracking numbers put GOP Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory in a dead heat among general election voters with both Dem Richard Moore and Dem Bev Perdue - it's 41% to 41%, with 18% undecided (which pretty much blows the doors off the Mayor's GOP competitors, too). Full results are here.
I was pretty exercised about it till I talked to my long-suffering editor, who asked innocently, “Couldn’t it just be name recognition?” Well, yes, it could, and thanks for asking. While the crosstabs show McCrory picking up some steam outside Charlotte media markets, that’s still where most of his support lies. I’ll leave it at mildly skeptical for now, but I’m open to persuasion.
Office space?
Former Wake County Men's GOP chair Chris Mintz is taking on his third race as a Democrat in as many years.
In ’06, a month after resigning his GOP position, he ran for House 41 as a Dem, losing a bitterly-fought primary to Ty Harrell, and provoking the over-the-top ire of party loyalists who painted him as an IOP grad in search of an office, period.
So far, he seems to be proving them right. In ’07, he entered the Dem race for state Treasurer, but his campaign never got out of the starting blocks. In ’08, he’s running (uncontested this time) for the Dem nomination for Wake Republican Neal Hunt’s state Senate seat.
Will it be different this time? Local Dems wanted Mintz to run for Hunt’s seat back in ’06. This time, they’re getting their wish. It’ll be interesting to see how much we hear about his conservative history and his backing by realtors and developers when he’s the only D standing for Senate 15.
Burr under the saddle
Not to be cranky, but the NC press has never sounded more provincial than in its recent breathless speculation about whether “Our Senator, Richard Burr” might be a VP pick for presumptive GOP nominee John McCain. Oh, the excitement!
Let’s face it: the last thing a Senator needs on the ticket is another Senator. (Gee, it worked so well for Kerry/Edwards and Gore/Lieberman, right?) Sure, McCain could pick Burr. But odds are much better he’ll choose a young, charismatic Republican governor. MN’s Tim Pawlenty is getting a lot of press, along with LA’s Bobby Jindal and even SC’s Mark Sanford (who’s not young, exactly, but hey, who isn’t younger than McCain?). There’s even talk he’s considering Condi Rice. Sure, it’s unsubstantiated, but it would make this a very interesting race.
Yes, Burr’s a very smart guy who probably has a long career in front of him. But his failed run for Senate leadership last year is a clear sign his colleagues aren’t sure he’s ready yet. He hasn’t even served one full term. So give it time, fans. Give it time.
Emeril vs the Law and Order candidate?
Over at Dome, Ryan Teague Beckwith says Richard Moore’s been ringing up the ad buys across the schedule at Time Warner Cable – $25,000 just last month. (Okay, Mr. Treasurer, I get CNBC – but the Food Network? Why?)
Perdue’s campaign, on the other hand, has been far more conservative, dropping a paltry 4K on political-type channels, with one exception: the nightly L&O-a-thon on USA. Who knew Bev Perdue was a secret Law & Order fan? And does Fred know?
Little C’s big moment
Best wishes to the brains behind the NC Center for Voter Education, Damon Circosta. He and his (otherwise sensible) wife, Amy, are due to give birth – as in today - to the only kid I know who has his own blog before he’s even born. Damon says he’ll post updates. Good luck, Amy and Damon!
Comments? Drop me a line.
