tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45940538989610509482024-03-14T05:05:58.346-04:00Election WatchCounting down to national, state and local elections on Nov. 6, 2012Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-29801691896027759072012-11-16T19:58:00.001-05:002012-11-16T20:10:27.969-05:00Her plan: Senator Paula Broadwell, R-N.C. North Carolina -- home to former Sen.. <strong>John Edwards</strong> and <em>future</em> Sen. <strong>Paula Broadwell</strong>?<br />
<br />
Not a chance that'll happen now that Charlotte-based Broadwell has been outed as <strong>David Petraeus'</strong> mistress and co-star of the most-talked-about extramarital romance since, well, John Edwards and Charlotte-based <strong>Rielle Hunter</strong>.<br />
<br />
But Time magazine reports that Broadwell had a plan to run for the Senate, as a Republican from the Tar Heel State.<br />
<br />
Over drinks in Aspen, Colo., last July, she told a small group that she had been approached by some "Republican moneymen," as Time put it, about running -- presumably against Democratic Sen. <strong>Kay Hagan</strong>, who is up for re-election in 2014. (Republican Sen. <strong>Richard Burr</strong> won a second term in 2010).<br />
<br />
She was tempted. But Petraeus shot down her plan, Broadwell told the group "in an irritated tone," the magazine said.<br />
<br />
Petraeus -- ex-CIA director, retired general and subject of a gushing 2012 biography by Broadwell -- interrogated her about her positions on several issues: abortion, climate change, gun control, gay marriage, tax cuts, Social Security vouchers.<br />
<br />
"Her answers, he told her, would not fit either party and she should not sell herself out," Time reported.<br />
<br />
Like Petraeus, Broadwell graduated from the U.S. Military Academy. She went on to become a counterterrorism expert. Her book is titled "All In: The Education of General David Petraeus."<br />
<br />
-- <em>Tim Funk </em><br />
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<br />Tim Funkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00014654758322393094noreply@blogger.com106tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-63965628819849008972012-11-05T17:28:00.000-05:002012-11-05T17:28:17.727-05:00Charlotte ranks No. 2 in political fundraisingIf you needed further proof that the Democratic National Convention was a nonstop party, here it is. The 362 political fundraisers held in Charlotte during those four days drove the city to the No. 2 spot on the <a href="http://politicalpartytime.org/blog/2012/11/04/party-times-year-in-review-extravaganza/">Sunlight Foundation's annual ranking</a> of political fundraising cities.<br />
<br />
The Tuesday and Wednesday of convention week turned out to be the busiest fundraising days of the entire year, according to the foundation, with 249 political parties between them.<br />
<br />
Washington D.C., naturally, again hosted the most fundraisers, with 1,128. Tampa, home to this year's Republican National Convention, came in third at 209.<br />
<br />
The DNC-related parties accounted for 85 percent of the total number of political fundraisers in Charlotte during the entire year. The city's overall total this year was 423.<br />
<br />
The rest of the top 10:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>New York City: 69</li>
<li>San Francisco: 36</li>
<li>Chicago: 25</li>
<li>Los Angeles: 25</li>
<li>Boston: 23</li>
<li>St. Petersburg, Fla.: 21</li>
<li>Denver: 16</li>
</ul>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-61527611725077861862012-11-01T14:22:00.000-04:002012-11-01T16:52:21.831-04:00Will the Panthers game decide the presidential election?A lot more could be riding on the Panthers-Redskins game this weekend than Carolina's season. If history is any indication, another Panthers loss would signal that President Barack Obama would be re-elected.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/eye-on-football/20774523/a-redskins-victory-vs-panthers-means-obama-will-win-and-vice-versa">CBS Sports reports</a> that in 17 of 18 Washington Redskins games before presidential elections, a Redskins win has been followed by the incumbent party staying in power. A Redkins loss has been followed by the opposition party taking the White House.<br />
<br />
It's called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redskins_Rule">Redskins Rule</a>, and it <a href="http://frontrow.espn.go.com/2012/10/redskins-rule-mnfs-hirdt-on-intersection-of-football-politics/">has</a> <a href="http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/04/is-redskins-game-an-omen-for-mccain/">been</a> <a href="http://www.csnwashington.com/football-washington-redskins/talk/will-redskins-rule-predict-tuesdays-winner">well </a> <a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/23/presidential-election-crystal-foot-base-and-basket-balls/">documented</a>.<br />
<br />
The only deviation was in 2004, when the Redskins lost to the Packers but President George W. Bush was re-elected.<br />
<br />
The Redskins (3-5) are 3.5 point favorites over the visiting Panthers (1-6).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-57921709770665917062012-11-01T09:54:00.002-04:002012-11-01T14:26:29.722-04:00No N.C. stops scheduled for Obama or RomneySo much for North Carolina being a key battleground state.<br />
<br />
Neither President Barack Obama nor Republican challenger Mitt Romney are scheduled to make stops in the state before Election Day, according to several reports from the campaign trail.<br />
<br />
The candidates' scheduled appearances <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/obama-returns-to-campaign-trail-to-deliver-closing-argument-in-whirlwind-trip/2012/11/01/468eb7f2-2419-11e2-9313-3c7f59038d93_story.html">are starting to be released</a> after both cut campaigning short as superstorm Sandy pummeled the East Coast.<br />
<br />
Both are making swings through Ohio, Wisconsin, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and New Hampshire.<br />
<br />
The most recent updates came from <a href="https://twitter.com/@mmurraypolitics">NBC News reporter Mark Murray</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Obama's final sked: THU -- WI, NV, CO; FRI -- OH; SAT -- OH, WI, IA, VA; SUN -- NH, FL, OH, CO; MON -- WI, OH, IA<br />
— Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) <a data-datetime="2012-11-01T13:23:34+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/mmurraypolitics/status/263994693266833409">November 1, 2012</a></blockquote>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Romney's final sked: THU -- VA; FRI -- WI, OH; SAT -- IA, NH, CO; SUN: --TDB; MON --NH<br />
— Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) <a data-datetime="2012-11-01T13:21:42+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/mmurraypolitics/status/263994224196849664">November 1, 2012</a></blockquote>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
From an RNC spokesman:<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.@<a href="https://twitter.com/stefcutter">stefcutter</a> to @<a href="https://twitter.com/chucktodd">chucktodd</a> "We are hitting every battleground state." They are not going to NC. All you need to know about NC.<br />
— Tim Miller (@Timodc) <a data-datetime="2012-11-01T13:27:33+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/Timodc/status/263995697932677120">November 1, 2012</a></blockquote>
The Romney campaign said Wednesday that North Carolina <a href="http://dncclt.blogspot.com/2012/10/romney-campaign-says-nc-drifting-away.html">was drifting away from Obama</a>. The president's campaign, for its part, said Monday <a href="http://dncclt.blogspot.com/2012/10/obama-campaign-on-nc-we-can-win-it.html">the state was very much in play</a>.<br />
<br />
Vice President Joe Biden's wife, Jill Biden, is still scheduled to campaign in Huntersville and <a href="http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20121101/NEWS/311010018/Jill-Biden-visit-Asheville?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage">Asheville</a> on Friday.<br />
<br />
<b>UPDATE</b>: Looks like the Obama campaign is still thinking about North Carolina. Michelle Obama <a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/11/01/3637342/michelle-obama-coming-to-charlotte.html">is now scheduled to visit Charlotte on Monday</a>.<br />
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-81665570494855578912012-10-31T23:00:00.000-04:002012-10-31T23:00:02.746-04:00Jill Biden to visit Huntersville on Friday<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font: small arial; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong>Jill Biden</strong> will rally Obama campaign volunteers in Huntersville on Friday.</span></span><br />
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The wife of Vice President <strong>Joe Biden</strong> is scheduled to speak at 1 p.m. at the Obama-Biden campaign field office at 14229 Reese Boulevard.</div>
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She had been scheduled to be in Huntersville</div>
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<em>-- Tim Funk</em></div>
Tim Funkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00014654758322393094noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-30409125585660895292012-10-31T19:39:00.007-04:002012-10-31T19:39:59.566-04:00Latest PPP poll: Obama-Romney tied in NC<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font: small arial; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The presidential race in North Carolina remains neck-and-neck, according to a new poll, with virtually no voters still undecided.</span><br />
<br />
The survey, released Wednesday by Raleigh-based Public Policy Polling, found President <strong>Barack Obama</strong> and former Massachusetts Gov. <strong>Mitt Romney</strong> tied with 49 percent each.<br />
<br />
The poll also found that Obama is winning among early voters in the state, 58 percent to 41 percent. Romney is ahead among those who have not yet voted, 58 percent to 40 percent, according to the survey from the Democratic-leaning firm.<br />
<br />
This is the second week in a row that PPP found the presidential race deadlocked in North Carolina.<br />
<br />
But PPP's Wednesday survey comes on the heels of a poll done for WRAL-TV in Raleigh that found Romney ahead 50 percent to 45 percent in the Tar Heel State.<br />
<br />
Both campaigns addressed their North Carolina prospects during Wednesday conference calls with reporters. Obama campaign manager <strong>Jim Messina</strong> said that "our margin continues to increase every day in (early voting sites) all across the state.<br />
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And he charged that that Romney's campaign was bluffing in its claims of momentum.<br />
<br />
"He hasn't put a single battleground state away," Messina said. "remember when Romney was going to leave North Carolina (by pulling out some staff)? They've now raced to increase their TV ads there." That, added Messina, is "the clearest sign of all" that North Carolina is till up for grabs.<br />
</div>
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Romney's campaign team told reporters that North Carolina is drifting away from Obama.<br />
<br />
"This is one that I get a kick out of that I'm still talking about," political director <strong>Rich Beeson</strong> said while commenting on the different battleground states.<br />
<br />
He said that while early voting turnout still favors registered Democrats in North Carolina, Republicans have cut that gap by 100,000 votes from 2008 numbers.<br />
<br />
"North Carolina continues to move further and further from (Obama), as evidenced that they have not had the president down there since he left the convention," Beeson said, referring to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.<br />
<br />
-- <em>Tim Funk and Andrew Dunn</em></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Tim Funkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00014654758322393094noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-52517465302921710152012-10-31T16:31:00.000-04:002012-10-31T16:31:21.645-04:00Romney campaign says N.C. drifting away from ObamaRepublican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's campaign team said on a conference call with reporters Wednesday that North Carolina is drifting away from President Barack Obama.<br />
<br />
"This is one that I get a kick out of that I"m still talking about," political director Rich Beeson said while going through a list of the campaign's thoughts on battleground states.<br />
<br />
He said that while early voting turnout still favors registered Democrats in North Carolina, Republicans have cut that gap by 100,000 votes from 2008 numbers.<br />
<br />
"North Carolina continues to move further and further from him, as evidenced that they have not had the president down there since he left the convention," Beeson said, referring to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.<br />
<br />
Obama's campaign <a href="http://dncclt.blogspot.com/2012/10/obama-campaign-on-nc-we-can-win-it.html">would not say Monday</a> whether Obama would make another appearance in North Carolina, but said they felt the state was still very much in play.<br />
<br />
Public Policy Polling <a href="http://t.co/NEmPKGVw">had the candidates tied at 49 percent</a> on Wednesday. A <a href="http://dncclt.blogspot.com/2012/10/wral-poll-romney-leads-obama-in-nc.html">WRAL poll Tuesday had Romney ahead</a> 50-45.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-66387839898666683912012-10-30T18:42:00.003-04:002012-10-30T18:42:47.559-04:00WRAL poll: Romney leads Obama in N.C.A survey released Tuesday by WRAL-TV found that, a week before Election Day, former Massachussets Gov. <strong>Mitt Romney</strong> leads President <strong>Barack Obama</strong>, 50 percent to 45 percent in North Carolina.<br />
<br />
The Raleigh-Durham TV station's poll, conducted by SurveyUSA, comes on the heels of three other state polls -- released between last Thursday and Monday -- that said the presidential race in the Tar Heel State is neck-and-neck.<br />
<br />
That was also the verdict in WRAL's last poll, from four weeks ago. But the one released Tuesday found that Romney had moved into a lead by eliminating Obama's advantage with female voters. They are now tied at 47 percent among women, the poll found.<br />
<br />
Romney was ahead among independents and weathier voters, according to WRAL.<br />
<br />
Favoring Obama: Young voters.<br />
<br />
With early voting in the state underway, the WRAL survey found that Obama leads among people who have already voted (56 percent to 43 percent). <br />
<br />
But those who said they plan to vote in Election Day favor Romney, 60 percent to 33 percent.<br />
<br />
-- <em>Tim Funk</em><br />
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Tim Funkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00014654758322393094noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-78564555569762988992012-10-29T13:58:00.001-04:002012-10-29T13:58:10.535-04:00Money continues to roll in 8th an 9th DistrictsFollowing the tweets @jimmorrill:<br />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font: 14px/18px Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">R Richard Hudson in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23NC08" rel="hashtag" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #618199; font: 14px/18px Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank"><span class="hash">#</span>NC08</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font: 14px/18px Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>outraises D Larry Kissell 5-1 in first part of Oct. He got $90K from PACs, 3 x all of what Kissell raised. #NCPOL</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font: 14px/18px Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font: 14px/18px Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Republican Robt. Pittenger in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23NC09" rel="hashtag" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #618199; font: 14px/18px Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank"><span class="hash">#</span>NC09</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font: 14px/18px Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">loaned his campaign $25K in Oct., otherwise outraised by Dem. Jennifer Roberts $76K to $66K.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23NCPOL" rel="hashtag" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #618199; font: 14px/18px Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank"><span class="hash">#</span>NCPOL</a></span><br />
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Jim Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01736614477965058875noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-59277254514658218812012-10-29T12:11:00.000-04:002012-10-29T12:11:00.988-04:00Obama campaign on N.C.: 'We can win it'The Obama campaign believes North Carolina is still in play and is increasing its television ad spending in the state, but would not say Monday whether President Barack Obama would make an appearance here before the election.<br />
<br />
"We continue to believe on the ground we can win it," campaign manager Jim Messina said of North Carolina on a conference call with reporters Monday morning.<br />
<br />
Messina and senior strategist David Axelrod said Obama was leading in every battleground state and said they were impressed with early voting results, including in North Carolina.<br />
<br />"I am ridiculously proud of what the North Carolina staff has put on the ground with our volunteers," Messina said.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He also addressed <a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/10/18/3606394/romney-campaign-feeling-confident.html">reports from Mitt Romney's campaign earlier this month</a> saying the Republicans were pulling people out of North Carolina, feeling confident in victory.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I'm calling their bluff," Messina said.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Most battleground state trackers still show North Carolina leaning Republican. The New York Times' <a href="http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/">FiveThirtyEight blog gives Romney an 82.5 percent chance</a> of winning the state.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"We really believe that North Carolina is within our reach," Axelrod said on the call. "Everything that we see points to a real possibility there."<br /><br />
When asked about whether Obama would make a North Carolina stop in the next eight days, Messina said the campaign has been re-assessing the scheduling <a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/10/28/3628368/east-coast-storm-wreaks-havoc.html">after Hurricane Sandy changed plans</a>.<br />
<br />
"We're looking very closely at where we're sending him," Messina said, citing recent N.C. visits from <a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/10/02/3572978/biden-in-charlotte-middle-class.html">Vice President Joe Biden</a> and <a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/10/16/3600325/mrs-obama-visiting-unc-chapel.html">First Lady Michelle Obama</a> in the state.</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-68915750840403018022012-10-25T10:53:00.000-04:002012-10-25T10:54:59.545-04:00Obama's barnyard epithet on Romney causing a stirPresident Barack Obama's use of a barnyard epithet to describe Republican candidate Mitt Romney in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine is causing quite the stir around the Internet this morning.<br />
<br />
Here's how Politico summed it up:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #171717; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">FIRST LOOK – Rolling Stone cover, “Obama and the Road Ahead: The Rolling Stone Interview,” by Douglas Brinkley</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #171717; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">: “We arrived at the Oval Office for our 45-minute interview … on the morning of October 11</span><sup style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #171717; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">th</sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #171717; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">. … As we left the Oval Office, executive editor Eric Bates told Obama that he had asked his six-year-old if there was anything she wanted him to say to the president. … [S]he said, ‘Tell him: You can do it.’ Obama grinned. … ‘You know, kids have good instincts,’ Obama offered. ‘They look at the other guy and say, “Well, that’s a bullshitter, I can tell.”’”</span></blockquote>
Tweets <a href="http://twitter.com/search/realtime?q=bullshitter&src=typd">are pouring in, the majority of them negative</a> (warning, the profanity continues).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-calls-romney-a-bullshitter-2012-10#ixzz2AK2yzxgZ">Business Insider</a>: "This is the first time we can ever recall a President using that sort of language in an interview. We look forward to hearing the White House's response."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/10/obama-says-kids-know-romney-is-dishonest-147184.html">Politico</a>: "That's some frank language from Obama, who has a genuine disdain for GOP challenger Mitt Romney, as POLITICO's Glenn Thrush has reported."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://twitchy.com/2012/10/25/wow-president-classy-obama-tells-rolling-stone-that-romney-is-a-bullshitter/">Twitchy</a>: "Just when you thought President Obama couldn't stoop any lower, here he goes again."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com69tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-13259832293120075842012-10-24T14:22:00.000-04:002012-10-24T14:22:03.495-04:00N.C. voters not seeing two new Obama adsNorth Carolina is not included in the newest round of TV ads being aired by the re-election campaign of President <strong>Barack Obama</strong>.<br />
<br />One new ad is running in Nevada, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Ohio and Virginia. A second ad is running in those states as well as New Hampshire and Wisconsin.<br />
<br />But the Obama campaign was still running a 60-second ad in North Carolina that featured Obama speaking into the camera.<br />
<br />
On Tuesday, top Obama campaign officials denied suggestions that they were writing off North Carolina at a time when polls give Republican challenger <strong>Mitt Romney</strong> a slight lead in the state.<br />
<br />
Obama campaign manager pointed to TV ads running in the state as well as recent visits by Vice President <strong>Joe Biden</strong> and First Lady <strong>Michelle Obama</strong>. But the Democratic president himself has not been to North Carolina since early September, when he gave his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.<br />
<br />
-- <em>The News & Observer</em>Tim Funkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00014654758322393094noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-83709845609298226942012-10-15T11:30:00.001-04:002012-10-15T11:30:26.929-04:00Poll: Romney takes slight lead in NCRepublican <strong>Mitt Romney</strong> has taken a slight lead in North Carolina, according to the latest Public Policy Polling survey.<br />
<br />
The former Massachusetts governor is the choice of 49 percent of likely N.C. voters, the poll found, while President <strong>Barack Obama</strong> is the pick of 47 percent.<br />
<br />
Two weeks ago, PPP -- a Democratic-leaning firm -- had the two presidential candidates at 48 percent apiece.<br />
<br />
It's still close: Romney's lead is within the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.<br />
<br />
But PPP said that Romney's performance in his first debate with Obama improved his image in the Tar Heel State. Now, 49 percent of N.C. voters have a favorable view of him, compared to 46 percent who don't. That's a reversal of what his favorability/unfavorability numbers were in the last PPP poll.<br />
<br />
PPP said Romney is ahead in North Carolina mainly for two reasons: He has a 30 point advantage with white voters (63 percent to 33 percent) and he leads among independent voters, 54 percent to 40 percent.<br />
<br />
In other other findings, N.C. voters thought, by 46 percent to 42 percent, that Vice President <strong>Joe</strong> <strong>Biden</strong> won the recent vice presidential debate. But they have a slighter higher opinion of Romney's running mate, U.S. Rep. <strong>Paul Ryan</strong>, 48 percent to Biden's 47 percent.<br />
<br />
"North Carolina continues to look like one of the closest states in the country," PPP President <strong>Dean Debnam</strong> said in a news release. "But things are trending a little bit in Mitt Romney's direction and Obama needs a strong performance (in the second debate) Tuesday night to get things going back in the other direction."<br />
<br />
PPP surveyed 1,084 likely N.C. voters last weekend (Oct. 12-14).<br />
<br />
North Carolina is one of nine battleground states in the presidential race. The others: Ohio, Florida, Virginia, Iowa, New Hampshire, Colorado, Nevada, and Wisconsin.<br />
<br />
-- <em>Tim Funk </em>Tim Funkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00014654758322393094noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-27986244808863744932012-10-10T16:51:00.000-04:002012-10-10T16:57:22.122-04:00Huckabee to join Romney at Asheville rally; Jill Biden coming to NC, tooTwo new signs that North Carolina remains a battleground in the presidential race:<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>Mike Huckabee</strong> will join <strong>Mitt Romney</strong> at the GOP presidential candidate's Thursday night rally in Asheville. Also on the bill at the 6 p.m. event at the U.S. Cellular Center: country music singer <strong>Ronnie Milsap</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Jill Biden</strong> will visit the state Saturday to attend "Women for Obama-Biden" events. No details yet on where in North Carolina she'll be, but her trip will come just two days after her husband, Vice President <strong>Joe Biden</strong>, debates Romney's running mate, U.S. Rep. <strong>Paul Ryan</strong>, R-Wisc.</li>
</ul>
<em>-- Tim Funk</em>Tim Funkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00014654758322393094noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-15062264853983883322012-10-02T18:57:00.000-04:002012-10-02T19:01:55.456-04:00Celebs say "vote early" in video shot during DNCA celebrity-filled video shot during the recent Democratic National Convention in Charlotte has been released by Obama's North Carolina campaign.<br />
<br />
Its subject: The benefits of early voting, which starts Oct. 18 in North Carolina.<br />
<br />
"Gotta Vote" features <strong>Eva Longoria</strong>, <strong>Alexis Bledel</strong>, <strong>Zach Braff</strong>, <strong>Aisha Taylor</strong>, <strong>Elizabeth Banks</strong>, <strong>Alfre Woodard</strong> and <strong>Olivia Wilde</strong>.<br />
<br />
Its intended audience are voter groups President <strong>Barack Obama</strong> is counting on in November, er, Oct. 18 and beyond. Namely, young people, African Americans and women.<br />
<br />
Early voting in North Carolina goes from Oct. 18 to Nov. 3. North Carolinians can go to any early vote location in their county and register and vote at the same time on the same day. Deatils: www,gottavote.com.<br />
<br />
Election Day is Nov. 6.<br />
<br />
In 2008, Obama carried North Carolina by just 14,000 votes -- a victory margin of 0.3 percent. He became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the state since Jimmy Carter in 1976.<br />
<br />
Obama did it by building up a big lead in early voting. Sen. <strong>John McCain</strong>, the Republican candidate, won among voters who cast their ballots on Election Day in 2008. But his totals weren't enough to catch up with Obama, who won the early vote.<br />
<br />
-- <em>Tim Funk</em>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eXJIMuGm96M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Tim Funkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00014654758322393094noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-4636949555870393272012-09-28T10:21:00.000-04:002012-09-28T10:21:19.670-04:00NBC/WSJ Poll: Neck and neck in NCA new NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist Poll has good news for Democrat Barack Obama and for Republican Pat McCrory in North Carolina.<br />
<br />
The poll, released Friday, shows Obama with the support of 48 percent of likely North Carolina voters to 46 percent for Mitt Romney. It's the latest in a series of polls by the NBC partnership that show Obama leading his Republican opponent in swing states.<br />
<br />
In North Carolina, Obama is up by 1.1 points in the Real Clear Politics polling average.<br />
<br />
"This was the closest of the battleground states four years ago and it is close again this time," said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. "The competitive presidential contest is not, however, spilling over to the race for governor."<br />
<br />
The poll shows McCrory leading Democratic Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton 52 percent to 39 percent. <em>Jim Morrill</em>Jim Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01736614477965058875noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-91228921599402794002012-09-26T14:59:00.003-04:002012-09-26T15:40:56.881-04:00Biden will campaign in Charlotte on TuesdayVice President <strong>Joe Biden</strong> will campaign in Charlotte on Tuesday (Oct. 2), an Obama campaign official said Wednesday.<br />
<br />
More details on his itinerary are to come.<br />
<br />
Biden's return to North Carolina comes as the race for the state's 15 electoral votes is heating up.<br />
<br />
The vice president's stop follows a visit to Durham last week by First Lady <strong>Michelle Obama</strong>.<br />
<br />
On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. <strong>Paul Ryan</strong> -- GOP presidential candidate <strong>Mitt Romney's</strong> running mate -- also stopped in North Carolina this month.<br />
<br />
And this week, two high-profile Republican surrogates -- U.S. Sen. <strong>Marco Rubio</strong> of Florida and Gov. <strong>Nikki Haley</strong> of South Carolina -- have campaigned for Romney-Ryan in the Tar Heel State.<br />
<br />
Both campaigns are also airing new TV ads in the state, where Romney and Democratic President <strong>Barack Obama</strong> are virtually tied in recent polls.<br />
<br />
-- <em>Tim Funk</em>Tim Funkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00014654758322393094noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-90208405049427340962012-09-25T17:30:00.002-04:002012-09-25T17:30:35.706-04:00Pittenger debates Roberts WednesdayRepublican Robert Pittenger and Democrat Jennifer Roberts meet for the first debate of their 9th Congressional District campaign Wednesday afternoon at the Charlotte Chamber.<br />
<br />
Both are trying to replace Republican U.S. Rep Sue Myrick in the district's first open-seat election since 1994. <br />
<br />
The meeting will be preceded by two legislative debates. Democratic Rep. Martha Alexander and Republican Rob Bryan will face off for the House District 88 seat and Democrat Robin Bradford and Republican Charles Jeter will debate for the newly created seat from District 92.<br />
<br />
<em>Jim Morrill</em>Jim Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01736614477965058875noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-90807062673497830752012-09-23T15:08:00.001-04:002012-09-23T15:08:42.105-04:00Rubio to promote Romney at Charlotte rallyU.S. Sen. <strong>Marco Rubio</strong> -- one of the GOP's rising stars -- is scheduled to be in Charlotte on Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 26) for a Romney-Ryan "Victory Rally."<br />
<br />
The Florida Republican will speak to <strong>Mitt Romney</strong> supporters at 1:45 p.m. at SteelFab, Inc., 8623 Old Dowd Road, according to an email from the Romney campaign.<br />
<br />
Rubio was among those considered by Romney as a running mate. The Cuban-American lawmaker, who introduced Romney at the recent Republican National Convention in Tampa, is also touted as a future presidential candidate.<br />
<br />
<em>-- Tim</em> <em>Funk</em><br />
<br />
<br />Tim Funkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00014654758322393094noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-32933515779743381662012-09-06T11:01:00.002-04:002012-09-06T11:01:54.068-04:00Chamber CEO talks up Charlotte on TVCharlotte Chamber CEO has been making television appearances all week talking up the city as the country's fastest growing metropolitan area.<br />
<br />
<br />
<script src="http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/embed.js?id=1822822435001&w=466&h=263" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Watch the latest video at &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://video.foxbusiness.com"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;video.foxbusiness.com&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</noscript>
<br />
On Fox Business, Morgan said the convention was Charlotte's "debut" and said the city is "doing pretty well economically by this convention."
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<br />
<br />
On C-SPAN's Washington Journal, Morgan described the city's rise into a major financial center and touted the city's manufacturing. When asked about hwether the city had contingency plans for more trouble at Bank of America or Wells Fargo, he praised the two big banks for bringing wealth to the city and said "very little gets done civically" without their taking a lead role.<br />
<br />
Beyond that, he said the city continues to diversify its corporate base, though he also said other banks like PNC and BB&T have been increasing their presence in the city.<br />
<br />
--<i>Andrew Dunn</i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-74243172769478488732012-09-06T09:44:00.005-04:002012-09-06T09:48:44.715-04:00Video: North Carolina delegation's roll call vote<object align="middle" classid="clsid:d27cdb6eae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="500" id="cspan-video-player" width="410"><param name='allowScriptAccess' value='true'/><param name='movie' value='http://www.c-spanvideo.org/videoLibrary/assets/swf/CSPANPlayer.swf?clipid=3873331'/><param name='quality' value='high'/><param name='bgcolor' value='#ffffff'/><param name='allowFullScreen' value='true'/><param name='flashvars' value='system=http://www.c-spanvideo.org/common/services/flashXml.php?clipid=3873331&style=full'/><embed name='cspan-video-player' src='http://www.c-spanvideo.org/videoLibrary/assets/swf/CSPANPlayer.swf?clipid=3873331' allowScriptAccess='always' bgcolor='#ffffff' quality='high' allowFullScreen='true' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer' flashvars='system=http://www.c-spanvideo.org/common/services/flashXml.php?clipid=3873331&style=full' align='middle' height='500' width='410'></embed></object>
<br />
You might have missed the North Carolina's delegation in the roll call vote, since they didn't get to cast their votes until well after midnight. But they spoke briefly before casting 152 of their 157 votes for President Obama.<br />
<br />
You can watch them above, courtesy of a clip from C-SPAN.<br />
<br />
Here's our brief transcript. The clip starts with the tail end of New York's vote.<br />
<br />
<b>Charlotte businessman Cameron Harris</b>: "The great and sovereign state of North Carolina, the cradle of liberty, is delighted to host the Democratic convention in Charlotte, North Carolina."<br />
<br />
<b>Democratic Party chairman David Parker</b>: "Madam secretary, North Carolina, the state of our great Gov. Beverly Perdue, our fantastic Sen. Kay Hagan, where the weak grow strong and the strong grow great, where we will elect Walter Dalton our next governor, where we voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and where we will carry North Carolina again in 2012, to keep this recovery going, to keep our American dream alive, North Carolina proudly casts 152 votes for Barack Obama."<br />
<br />
--<i>Andrew Dunn</i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-67404993285526224902012-09-04T12:27:00.003-04:002012-09-04T12:27:52.839-04:00DNC: The outtakesHere's the serendipity of conventions: You run into all sorts of people from the world of politics. Here are three:<br />
<br />
-- James Carville: The Democratic strategist and TV talking head was relaxing outside the CNN booth at Time-Warner Arena. I asked him if he thought holding the DNC in Charlotte would help President Obama's campaign.<br />
<br />
"I hope so," he said. "I'm always sort of skeptical that a convention site in early September brings voters in early November." <br />
<br />
He also said if Mitt Romney loses North Carolina, he loses the election.<br />
<br />
-- Jeff Greenfield: The TV analyst was with his friend Joe Klein at a Sunday reception at the Duke Energy building. He likes Charlotte as a host city.<br />
<br />
"It's great, he said. "The whole uptown area is so amenable. The folks are terrific. The venues are spectacular."<br />
<br />
-- Chris Lehane: The Democratic strategist turned film-writer is here in part to screen his new film "Knife Fight" starring Rob Lowe about corrupt California politics. He showed parts of it at a Politico Playbook breakfast hosted by Mike Allen at Packard Place.<br />
<br />
He called conventions "a political appendix," vestiges of another era. This is the first year parties will have done both their conventions in three days, not four.<br />
<br />
"Between Tampa and Charlotte, they'll be inflection point conventions," he said. <em>Jim Morrill</em>Jim Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01736614477965058875noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-9036707897488110472012-09-03T17:28:00.000-04:002012-09-03T17:28:51.617-04:00Duke CEO defends Obama, talks up Charlotte on CNN<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="374" id="ep" width="416"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="movie" value="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=bestoftv/2012/09/03/exp-point-jim-rogers.cnn" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><embed src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=bestoftv/2012/09/03/exp-point-jim-rogers.cnn" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="416" wmode="transparent" height="374"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers defended President Barack Obama and talked up Charlotte <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2012/09/03/exp-point-jim-rogers.cnn">during an interview with CNN's Soledad O'Brien</a> on her show Monday morning.<br />
<br />
When asked about whether the country is better off now than four years ago, Rogers first talked about how energy efficiency has improved over Obama's term and how natural gas has emerged as a low-cost energy source.<br />
<br />
When pressed about the economy, Rogers said Obama started in a "deep hole" that he's worked out of.<br />
<br />
"The more relevant question is, are we on the right trend?" Rogers said. "Are we moving in the right direction?"<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Rogers has been a prominent donor to both the Democratic National Committee and the Obama campaign this election cycle, FEC records show, as well as other Democratic and Republican candidates.<br />
<br />
O'Brien also asked Rogers about Charlotte and whether the city can handle the convention despite its relatively small size.<br />
<br />
"Charlotte has a history of punching above its weight," Rogers said. "Charlotte has a history of re-inventing itself. Charlotte is a can-do city."<br />
<br />
Rogers and the panel went on to talk briefly about carbon regulations and cap-and-trade. You can <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1209/03/sp.02.html">read a transcript of the interview here</a>.<br />
<br />
-<i>Andrew Dunn</i></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-90256897480823001792012-09-03T15:46:00.001-04:002012-09-03T15:46:08.993-04:00Will rain force Obama speech indoors?Possible thunderstorms could move President Barack Obama's Thursday night acceptance speech indoors -- a contingency plan that would frustrate tens of thousands of North Carolinians now planning to watch the speech at Bank of American Stadium.<br />
<br />
With forecasts calling for a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms Thursday -- though clearer skies by nightfall -- Obama campaign spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter raised the possibility Monday morning that the president may have to deliver his speech in Time Warner Cable Arena.<br />
<br />
"We're still hopeful we can speak in the stadium," Cutter said on MSNBC's Daily Rundown show. "We've got tens of thousands of people from all over North Carolina and the country traveling here for that, with enormous enthusiasm for it. But we always knew this could be part of the plan. We'll make a call sometime in the near future about whether to move it indoors."<br />
<br />
But later Monday morning, at a news conference at the Charlotte Convention Center, convention committee CEO Steve Kerrigan told reporters: "This is going forward, rain or shine."<br />
<br />
Kerrigan added, though, that a contingency plan was on the table if thunderstorms pose safety issues.<br />
<br />
In Tampa last week, Tropical Storm Isaac forced Republicans to change their plans, shortening their convention by a day.<br />
<br />
-- Tim Funk and Ann Doss Helms<br />
<br />
Tim Funkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00014654758322393094noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594053898961050948.post-73676329586015095412012-09-03T11:55:00.005-04:002012-09-03T11:55:58.447-04:00LA mayor expects 65,000 for Obama speechLos Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says to expect 65,000 people to be in Bank of America on Thursday night for President Barack Obama's acceptance speech.<br />
<br />
Speaking Monday at uptown's POLITICO Playbook Breakfast, the mayor and chair of the 2012 Democratic National Convention also acknowledged that delegates in Charlotte may have to give themseves some extra time all week to maneuver the various security arrangements on their way to events and Time Warner Cable Arena.<br />
<br />
When the Democrats held their convention in his city in 2000, Villaraigosa told host Mike Allen and his audience, "LA felt like it went very smoothly -- because that was before September 11 . . . I hope it's going to go as smoothly as possibly here."<br />
<br />
When asked about Charlotte, though, Villaraigosa showered the Queen City and its residents with compliments.<br />
<br />
"Don't you just love the Southern hospitality? They're so warm, so gracious," he said. "I love the trees, This is a beautiful city . . . This is a city where you'd want to love."<br />
<br />
The mayor also gave a shout-out to Osso restaurant and the whole N.C. Music Factoy complex. And he called Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx "the face of the New South." <br />
<br />
-- Tim Funk <br />
<br />
<br />
Tim Funkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00014654758322393094noreply@blogger.com5