lt. 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.

Silver lining, silver lining . . . . gotta be here somewhere.... oh, here it is. Lost race for Statewide office while running a campaign built on candor, integrity, effort and grassroots support. Left the field of battle with head high, despite mud and underhanded tactics. Will be back - long after they are gone.

There we go. That will do nicely.

For part of 2006, all of 2007 and early 2008 my daily blogging life revolved around getting John Edwards elected President. During that time I did what I could to make it happen, not nearly as much as volunteers like NCDem Amy and Tom P. and not a drop in the bucket compared to the paid staff - Tracy Russo, Aaron Myers and the rest of the crew I got to know while volunteering at the office. When Senator Edwards dropped out of the race it felt like a kick in the groin. It was unexpected, it was painful. To me, John Edwards was really going to be the person that changed the system. I believe in him like people believed in JFK and RFK and as I told my wife "you only get one of these races every lifetime" and for me it wasn't or isn't about Obama it was about John Edwards.
But, he's out. So, after fluttering around for awhile I discovered the second-best candidate running in North Carolina, Dan Besse. Then, finally, I started blogging about the Neal/Hagan race. But, the thrill is gone. I'm all burnt out of candidate fights. I'm burnt out on fighting over he said/she said. I'm going back to issue blogging. At least, for now. So, this is it. This is my final blog on candidates.

Hampton Dellinger has come out with a new ad, which once again showcases the stark difference between the old school politics of Raleigh and Hampton's bright, optimistic outlook.

Check it out, here:

23, 17, 9, 5

Those are the numbers in the newest (only) public poll released on the Lt. Governor's race. The big number, though is 46 - that's the number of undecided voters in that race. The MoE is 5.

Walter Dalton has the backing of the entire Democratic State Senate, 53 Sheriffs, and all the money industry can throw at him. He's been on the air for months with the same ad repeating his name over and over and claiming to have saved the world from destruction and done everything but deliver babies, and he can't get over 23.

A progressive is going to win this election, and it's going to be Hampton Dellinger.

The Charlotte Observer announced its recommendations for the Lieutenant Governor nominations. It followed a clear pattern - remarking on the complete lack of qualifications on the Republican side of the ledger, but noting that any of the four Democrats would be a fine choice.

But of the four, the Observer, North Carolina's largest daily newspaper, recommended Hampton Dellinger as the best Democratic nominee, and may well have given Hampton a new nickname: the aggressive progressive.

Join Hampton Dellinger, Candidate for Lt. Governor, at 7 P.M. on Sunday, April 20 for a live-blog. If you can't be here on Sunday evening, please leave your questions for Hamp here, so he has a chance to answer them.

See you Sunday!