Betsy Muse's blog

Poll results are in and the field is narrowed down for the races for Governor and Lt. Governor in North Carolina. While every name isn't included on the list, I included as many as I could and results were still fairly decisive.

Poll for Lt. Governor

Poll for Governor

You know that feeling. The one you get when you go to thank a list of people and just know you're going to leave someone important out. I got that feeling yesterday in the mad rush to promote candidates to run for Governor.  We only have a few weeks before filing begins so the race was on to recruit candidates, promote facebook pages and buy up urls. In the rush I forgot some very important people - women.

Someone threw out Janet Cowell's name and I think Elaine Marshall's name came up, so the rest of you are off the hook. For me, there is absolutely no excuse. I'm the daughter of a female politician for heaven's sake! Today, please allow me to right my wrong. The Democratic Party of North Carolina has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to strong women prepared and qualified to serve this state and its people.

Bold Progressives has jumped on the idea Brad Miller might consider a run for Governor if encouraged. They have already mailed out a link to their members in North Carolina and I'd like to promote it here.

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Brad Miller:

"My only two options are to run in a primary with David Price or not to run," Miller said. "I have talked to a lot of friends who have supported David and me. Some would support David. And some would support me. But none of them want to see a primary between us."

What is the customary period of mourning for this? Anyone know?

The family pet cat of a campaign manager for a Democratic Congressional candidate was killed, had the word "liberal" painted on its side and was left on the front porch for the campaign manager's four children to find.

Jacob Burris, who has served as Aden’s campaign manager since late October, arrived home with his family Sunday evening, and his four children discovered the gruesome scene as they exited the family vehicle to enter their home.

The family pet, an adult, mixed-breed Siamese cat, had one side of its head bashed in to the point the cat’s eyeball was barely hanging from its socket. The perpetrators scrawled “liberal” across the cat’s body and left it on the doorstep of Burris’ house.

The wealthiest white Republicans in Charlotte voted as a block Tuesday to elect a man for City Council in District One who says he was born Lord God King. They are doctors, lawyers, CEOs and trust fund babies.  They are the 1% and this is their leader.

Republican Charlotte City Councilman Andy Dulin used his position on the DNC Host Committee to promote two Republican candidates for Charlotte City Council in a robo call.  The state campaign disclosure laws are very clear in regards to robo calls.

§ 75‑104. Restrictions on use of automatic dialing and recorded message players.

Rebublicans are lining up to challenge Congressman Larry Kissell in the newly redrawn 8th Congressional District.  Despite his conservative leanings, the gerrymandered districts drawn by the Republican legislature will make it more difficult for Kissell to win reelection. 

The following is a cursory glance at the candidates who have declared their intentions  to run in North Carolina's 8th District.  Stu Rothenberg has said it would take a miracle for Kissell to win.  So folks....which one do you want in Washington in his place?

Richard Hudson

Yesterday, News 14 reported that Federal Judge Catherine Eagles heard arguments from lawyers on both sides arguing for and against a temporary injunction to all or parts of the new law as it makes its way through the courts.  Today, AP is reporting that the judge issued a ruling in the case.

The Cain campaign has a new ad out that more than likely is meant to target white, working class voters.  Cain's chief of staff, Mark Block is at his working stiff best in this close up video which shows him smoking a lit cigarette and exhaling the smoke.  It is as if he's saying, "I'm white and I'm running the show.  Don't mind the black guy smiling at the end of this ad."

Of course, all working class voters are not racists...or smokers.  I live in a very rural, fairly white county in the south and I'm a realist.

h/t Garance Franke-Ruta at The Atlantic