Okay so we all know that the Under the Dome column in the N&O is essentially clueless, but this paragraph from Under the Dome today trying to give props to Vernon Robison killed me:

Usually, when congressional candidates go to Washington they are seeking support and money. But Republican Vernon Robinson of Winston-Salem actually bore gifts when he was in D.C. last week to meet with GOP leaders.

Robinson, who is challenging Democratic Rep. Brad Miller in the 13th Congressional District, gave each GOP House member the names and addresses of his donors from their states. Robinson said the 42,000 names had an in-kind value of $116,000.

Today I'm going to post the available candidates in the 2nd Congressional District. Bob Etheridge is the Representative for this district in Washington. Leslie H has kindly volunteered to interview Rep. Etheridge.

The following is the complete list of candidates that fall within this district:

Day 8
NC Senate, District 14 (Southern Dem)
Dem. Vernon Malone (i) v. Rep. Richard Doeffinger
Counties and partial counties: Wake

NC House, District 38 (Southern Dem)
Dem. Deborah K. Ross, unopposed
Counties and partial counties: Wake

More below the fold...

Hey y'all,

I hope that this isn't too obscure, but it is surely an issue close to my heart. It is becoming more and more difficult to either turn a profit as a full time farmer or to simply raise crops or livestock for your own family. It is very tough in western North Carolina, where land is typically too rugged for large scale farm operations like those of the west and mid-west, to compete economically on the enormous and overwhelming commodities market. And, increasingly, land is too expensive, and the cost of living too high, to get started in small scale farming or to have the time for "hobby-farming."

Van Braxton probably isn’t a candidate you’ve heard much about, but he’s one of our strongest State House pick-up opportunities. This seat was targeted in 2004, with incumbent Stephen Laroque (R) beating a Democratic political newcomer. This year, the Democrats have nominated Braxton, a 3 term Kinston City Councilman with deep family and business ties throughout the district. With a strong candidate like Braxton (Kinston is by far largest city in the district), the race was competitive from the beginning. But get this – Laroque, the incumbent Republican, was moderate enough to have a primary challenger funded by our good friend Art Pope. And Laroque lost. By 9 votes.

Court challenges have of course been filed, and the case won’t be decided for a few more weeks, but this is an incredible opportunity. The likely Republican nominee, Willie Ray Starling, has never held political office and ran a classic “also ran” throw away campaign in 2004 from the back of his car. On his website (www.willieray.com) he quotes Jerry Falwell and says he wants to be the Jesse Helms of the State Legislature.