oldwellblue's blog

Shallow Cal  is calling for a runoff election that will cost our state as much as $5 million (that’s how much the Labor Commissioner runoff in ’08 cost us).
 
But he doesn’t care about us taxpayers – when Cal was running for the state Senate, he signed a No Tax Pledge to get elected but once he was in office, Shallow Cal rubber-stamped over $1 billion in tax increases.
 
Cal doesn’t care about the future of North Carolina, he cares about the future of Cal Cunningham.

Check out http://www.news-record.com/blog/54431/entry/89433

Historically, run-offs can be won in NC but usually the opponents are only 1% or 2% apart, not 10%. Cal is wasting a lot of time and money just to lose, as the News-Record said, “bad move” Cal. We need to stand united in order to take down Burr in November. Cal, it is time to put personal ambition aside and do what is best for NC, drop the runoff.

I noticed that Cal Cunningham’s campaign will be having phone banks set up all over the state this weekend. I also noticed that he will be running those phone banks from a law firm in Asheville, a company in Charlotte, and union headquarters in Colfax and Raleigh. It seems to me that is a direct violation of the FEC law that states you are not allowed to accept in-kind corporate contributions. The Cunningham campaign needs to explain this one considering the first bill he sponsored was against corporate influence in North Carolina elections. Just more inconsistencies from the Cunningham camp…

ASHEVILLE - 1 Rankin Ave, Asheville, NC

CHARLOTTE - Curran and Connors - 525 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC

GREENSBORO - Teamsters Local - 3910 Teamsters Place, Colfax, NC

LEXINGTON - Cunningham HQ - 115 S Main St, Lexington, NC

RALEIGH - NCAE - 700 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC

WINSTON-SALEM - Forsyth County Dem HQ - 1128 Burke St., Winston-Salem, NC

Wow, the DSCC isn’t even trying to hide it anymore. Look at this post their latest twitter posting: Less than 30 days until the #NCSen primary. Join @calfornc! http://calfornc.com/30-3-30 #30330

Cal, don’t forget that North Carolinians are the ones who get to decide not DC. Poetry and the DSCC can only get you so far.

Just got forwarded an email about Cal hitting Burr on prescription
drugs programs…funny that Cal left out of the email that while he was
in the Senate he cut $555 Million on healthcare programs (including
prescriptions) for low-income parents, children, seniors, and people
with disabilities and also he cut ½ a million for prescription drugs
for the elderly. Cal can’t have it both ways.

The email even says “When Cal is elected to represent North Carolina
in the U.S. Senate, he will stand with you on issues important to the
pharmacy community.” He is already trying to be in the pockets of the
pharmaceutical lobby. Just what we need, thanks Cal.

I saw that Cunningham was again in DC talking to the beltway insiders. Marshall was also picked to win the primary prognosticators. I am really looking forward to the debate season. Let's get the candidates out there to actually talk instead of this media propaganda and speculation.

Cal Cunningham apparently had a fundraiser in DC tonight with lobbyists. Does he really have this wrapped up or are DC connections all he has? I guess Cal is not going to make a "no donations from lobbyists" pledge?

I haven't been paying as much attention to the race the past few weeks, but I have seen 2 things from Cunningham: Washington, DC insiders and negative campaigning against Burr. From Marshall I have seen e-mails to make calls for Coakley (I bet she wishes she could take that back). There has been no debate in this primary. I want to see these candidates distinguish themselves. Maybe Elaine and Cal will split the vote and Lewis will end up winning with a more niche/low cost strategy. I want one of these candidates to come out and say where they stand. I expect to see a strong flow of comments tonight following the state of the union.

I noticed on Under the Dome that all 3 senate candidates are going to be speaking tonight in Bladen County.

From Rob Christensen’s article in November regarding the DSCC’s influence in Senate races:

“The Etheridge decision underscores the importance of the national parties in Senate races. In some ways, the DSCC has become a kingmaker in Senate politics. Their decision to get behind state Sen. Kay Hagan last year, spending $11.5 million on her behalf, was critical in her defeat of Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole.”

I think the announcements today from Sens. Dodd and Dorgan may put a strain on the DSCC's ability to pump $11 to $12 million in support of a single candidate. It looks like they will need to spend at least some money in Connecticut and North Dakota may be as difficult as North Carolina. If the DSCC gets behind a contender like Ed Schultz (link) then they are likely to spend heavily to support him.

A three-way race in NC between Marshall, Cunningham, and Lewis could strain their own individual funds and then they could be faced with less national money.