Free Republic

Raleigh, N.C. – Barack Obama is now out to his largest lead yet in a PPP survey of North Carolina, polling at 51% in the state compared to 44% for John McCain. Last week Obama’s advantage was 49-46. Independent voters continue to move toward Obama in droves. He now has a 51-33 lead with them. He’s also now up to receiving 82% of the Democratic vote. Staying over the 80% threshold there would almost certainly ensure a victory in North Carolina. McCain now leads among white voters just 55-39, an edge that’s not nearly enough given Obama’s 92-6 lead with...

Much has been made in this election year of Barack Obama's Ivy League law degree, of his smoothly written memoirs, of his supreme gift of oratory, of his calm eloquence under the pressure of debate. But, say his critics, he is an elitist. He is not, they say, one of us. In fact, the junior U.S. senator from Illinois -- the son of a white mother from Kansas and a black father from Kenya, the product of humble beginnings and a raising by his extended family, the kid with big dreams, the young man with much ambition, the hard worker...

Barack Obama's stop at Cape Fear BBQ and Chicken in Fayetteville, N.C. The trip, according to a pool report, offered “some powerful and at times ugly interaction.” Many patrons applauded as he walked into the diner, but Diane Fanning, 54, began yelling “Socialist, socialist, socialist — get out of here!” Fanning said she’d heard that former Secretary of State Colin Powell had endorsed Obama but said that “Colin Powell is a RINO, R-I-N-O, Republican In Name Only.” Later, Obama came to the long table where Fanning and other members of a local First Presbyterian church were gathered. He held out...

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic: (FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - John McCain’s charges that Barack Obama is socialist may be resonating with some voters. At a BBQ stop this afternoon, Obama received an unwelcome greeting from one woman who yelled “socialist, socialist, socialist – get out of here!” as he met with other customers. The woman, Diane Fanning, who works at Sam’s Club, then asked the Democratic nominee about the North American Union, which he opposes. “I know some people have been hearing rumors about it. But as far as I can tell that’s just not something that’s happening. We would never...

'Socialist,' 'Muslim' — Ugly reception for Obama By: Politico Staff October 19, 2008 03:56 PM EST Barack Obama's stop at Cape Fear BBQ and Chicken in Fayetteville, N.C., this afternoon underscored the continued resistance of some voters to his candidacy — and his identity. The trip, according to a pool report, offered “some powerful and at times ugly interaction.” Campaigning in a traditionally Republican state, the Democratic nominee found lots of supporters of John McCain, at least one woman who believes the Illinois senator is a "closet Muslim" — and another who repeatedly shouted “Socialist.” The following is a compilation...

Senator McCaskell lied about what Sarah Palin said in North Carolina.

(October 18, 2004) North Carolina poll: Bush 50%, Kerry 47% [Actual Result: 56% to 44% for Bush]

Republican presidential nominee, Senator John McCain rallied a crowd of around 7,000 enthusiastic supporters in Concord this morning. "The enthusiasm we are seeing here has been overwhelming and gives us the confidence we are going to win," he said. McCain energized the crowd by talking about last week's debate with Senator Barack Obama. "The real winner this week was Joe the Plumber," he said. "Joe won, because he's the only person to get a real answer out of Senator Obama about his plans for our country. Congratulations Joe. That is an impressive achievement."

ELON - Resplendent in GOP red heels, Sarah Palin toed the platform above home plate at Latham Park at Elon University and hammered home a low-taxes, small-government, pro-family, pro-America message to the delight of a large crowd. Palin, the first female GOP vice-presidential candidate, came to the university Thursday and touted her record and that of her presidential running mate, Arizona Sen. John McCain. She painted her opponents, Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as tax-happy and tainted by ties to a terrorist and voter fraud. Palin said Obama and Biden "think that government is the solution. "I disagree with...

ELON, N.C. — Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin is making her second stop in North Carolina in as many weeks. Palin plans to hold a rally Thursday at Elon University, and she's bringing along singer-songwriter Hank Williams Jr. The Alaska governor held a similar rally at East Carolina University last week. Both presidential candidates will make North Carolina appearances this weekend.

Raleigh, N.C. — A WRAL News poll released Monday shows that the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates still tied as the senators kept on fighting for the Tar Heel State. Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain each claimed 48 percent of the poll participants. One percent of respondents said they would vote for Libertarian candidate Bob Barr, and 3 percent were undecided. The poll, conducted by Rasmussen Reports, surveyed 1,000 self-described likely voters by phone Sunday. It has a margin of error of 3 percentage points in either direction. A poll conducted on Wednesday last week showed Obama ahead,...

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain made his first campaign stop in North Carolina in several months. McCain held a town hall-style event Monday at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington. McCain spoke to the crowd for 20 minutes. The 2,000 free tickets to the event were gone within 45 minutes Saturday at New Hanover County GOP headquarters. McCain asked his supporters to "fight for a new direction for our country." His speech appealed to both the future of the country and the future of his campaign as he told the crowd, "Don't give up. Be strong....

On Saturday, as more than 100,000 NASCAR fans gathered at Lowe's Motor Speedway for the Bank of America 500, legendary racer Richard Petty announced his endorsement of Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain. "What we need right now in these uncertain times is a steady hand on the wheel, a leader we can trust to put country first, ahead of politics," Petty said in a prepared statement. The endorsement was not surprising. It came from a longtime party stalwart and onetime Republican candidate for secretary of state. But it did mark a busy day for the GOP. Faced with what...

October 11, 2008 Contact: Press Office NASCAR Legend Richard Petty Endorses John McCain ARLINGTON, VA -- McCain-Palin 2008 today announced that Richard Petty, widely known as the greatest driver in NASCAR history, is endorsing John McCain for president. Petty is announcing his endorsement at today's Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. "What we need right now in these uncertain times is a steady hand on the wheel -- a leader we can trust to put country first, ahead of politics," Petty said. "John McCain has always done that, and if you need proof, think about...

Senator Elizabeth Dole, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, tells Newsmax TV she and other Republicans tried to move legislation five years ago to rein in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac but Democrats blocked their efforts and it "infuriates" her to think about how that could have prevented what eventually happened.

Raleigh, N.C. — More than half of North Carolina voters said they disapproved of the recent $700 billion federal bailout of the U.S. financial industry, and they were evenly split on whether the move would help or hurt the economy, according to a new WRAL News poll. Polling firm Rasmussen Reports surveyed 500 self-described likely voters statewide on Wednesday and found that 51 percent disagreed with the plan for the government to buy up bad assets from banks to stabilize the economy. Twenty-one percent agreed with the plan, while the remaining respondents said they weren't sure about it. The poll...

I hope this is true!! Obama and his Mama have been to this state about 5 times. McCain hasn't come at all and the state that's always been red, is now turning blue!

Obama Puts McCain on Defensive in North Carolina: In an election for President of the United States in North Carolina today, 10/07/08, four weeks till votes are counted, Republican John McCain edges Democrat Barack Obama, or possibly does not, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted for WTVD-TV Raleigh. The contest today stands at McCain 49%, Obama 46%, if black turnout is 20% on Election Day, as SurveyUSA expects and as SurveyUSA herein reports. However, if black turnout increases by 10%, to 22% of the electorate, the world looks different. The contest in North Carolina has tightened since a SurveyUSA poll...

SurveyUSA 10/05 - 10/06 617 LV Hagan 43 Dole 44 Dole +1

Michelle Obama told a crowd of military families near the Marine Corps' massive base at Camp Lejeune on Tuesday there is "only one candidate" for president who will work to give them the services and care they need. "When I look at the two candidates and their plans for America ... and when I think about the military families I've met across the country and the kind of help that they could use right now - not in four years or eight years but right now - then the choice is clear," the wife of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama...

GOP To Celebrate McCain/Palin During Obama Visit This Sunday, while Barack Obama holds a rally in Asheville, local Republican Party activists will gather at the Asheville High School beginning at noon, to show their support for Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin as well as Republican candidates at the local, state, and federal levels. The group will then reconvene at the City-County Plaza for a 3:30 press conference, where candidates and local business owners will talk about why it is essential for Republicans to be elected at all levels of government in order to get our economy and our...

Tonight Barrack Obama is in Asheville NC and I thought I would post a link or two that shows the culture in Asheville. First, let's look at hippie circle. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5309747526389675760&ei=ghvoSOL5IYnGqQKIzMmbDA&q=asheville+hippies&vt=lf At any given time of the day the circle is alive with a colorful myriad of people dancing, smoking (usually not winstons if you get my drift) and begging for money. Even the young children get involved by passing around mom or dads hat to collect quarters from the usually stunned onlookers. Most are unemployed by choice, even though if you pick up the Asheville newspaper job are available. I...

But the governor's race is an exception: Pat McCrory, the Republican mayor of Charlotte, now has a slight lead over Democratic Lieutenant Governor Bev Perdue. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds McCrory attracting 50% of the vote while Perdue earns 46%. This is the first time Rasmussen Reports has polled the governor’s race since mid-August, and it represents quite a reversal. In August, Perdue held a six-point advantage. She is currently serving her second term as lieutenant governor. McCrory has been Charlotte’s mayor since 1995.

Elon, N.C. — Nearly half of North Carolina residents blame the Republican Party for the nation's economic crisis, according to a poll released Friday. Elon University surveyed 477 people statewide this week and found that 47.7 percent felt the Republicans are more responsible for current economic problems, compared with 24.4 percent who blamed the Democrats. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.6 percentage points. By a 43-to-33 percent margin, respondents said Democrats have done a better job of managing the economy than Republicans. The margin between Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama GOP candidate John McCain...

10/07/2008 Road to Victory Rally: Tuesday October 7th in Greenville, NC Please join Governor Sarah Palin for a Road to Victory Rally in Greenville, NC on Tuesday October 7th.

Greensboro, N.C. — Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin will attend a rally in Greenville next week, a campaign official said late Wednesday. The Oct. 7 event at East Carolina University will be the first appearance in North Carolina by either Palin or Republican presidential candidate John McCain since the state's May primary. ... Doors to the Minges Coliseum are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. for the rally, but campaign officials didn't say when the event would start.

Raleigh, N.C. — Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory has edged ahead of Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue in the gubernatorial race with less than five weeks until the election, according to a new WRAL News poll. Polling firm Rasmussen Reports surveyed 700 likely voters statewide Tuesday and found that McCrory, the Republican candidate, holds a 50 to 46 percent lead over Perdue, the Democratic candidate. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. The poll reverses the findings of a WRAL News poll taken in August, when Perdue held a 6-point lead. An Elon University poll...

Spurred by heavy registration in big urban counties -- particularly among young voters and black people -- North Carolina's voter rolls have swelled by more than 600,000 this year to a record 6 million. "Voter registration has eclipsed all records, no doubt about it," said state elections director Gary Bartlett. The apparent beneficiaries: Democrats. Analysts say the changes have helped Democrat Barack Obama make the state an unexpected presidential battleground. "Clearly, the advantage goes to Obama," said Ferrel Guillory, director of the Program on Public Life at UNC-Chapel Hill. Democrats have an overall edge in registration in this state: 2.7...

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Sen. John McCain hasn't campaigned in North Carolina since the primary election. But some people used Sen. Barack Obama's Saturday rally as a chance to show their support for the Republican nominee. Their numbers didn't compare with those who turned out to support Obama, but the Republicans' enthusiasm for McCain was just as strong. No official date has been set for McCain to visit the Tar Heel State, but he did recently increase the number of paid campaign staff in North Carolina from about 20 to about 30. That's an effort to defend a state that hasn't...

More than two-thirds of North Carolina residents support offshore oil drilling, according to a poll conducted by Elon University. About 43 percent of the survey participants say they believe offshore drilling will reduce gas prices in five years or less, though experts say any such impact would be at least 10 years away. And 79 percent say the oil and gas should only be used domestically. The poll also asked about economic conditions. Two-thirds of respondents disapproved of President George W. Bush’s handling of the economy. Meanwhile, respondents were divided on how the N.C. economy will perform in the next...

No rest for the pollsters on Sunday: So ... what's the headline here? Probably the Public Policy Polling survey showing a 46-46 tie there. One wonders if the McCain campaign's internals are telling them something similar, since they are now shifting resources into the state. And Barack Obama was out in Charlotte today. But yet, my model still does not consider North Carolina to be a plausible tipping point state. Why not? Partly because the polling there has hardly been uniformly favorable to Obama -- it was barely ten days ago when SuvreyUSA released a poll showing him down 20...

The presidential race in North Carolina is tied. According to a recent poll by Democratic firm Public Policy Polling, both Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain have 46 percent. Libertarian Bob Barr has five percent. Four percent were undecided. Other recent polls have shown McCain with a wider lead since the end of the Republican national convention, though several did not include Barr, the only third-party candidate who will appear on the ballot. "The more voters are concerned about the economy instead of things like immigration, taxes, and social issues the better Democrats are going to do in North...

Republican National Committee officials on Friday blasted a group that's registering voters in Durham, calling it "a quasi-criminal, Democratic-affiliated organization" that represents a danger to the electoral process. The move by RNC Chief Counsel Sean Cairncross and Communications Director Danny Diaz followed a Herald-Sun report that Durham County Board of Elections Director Mike Ashe wants state officials to check about 80 voter registration forms for possible fraud. The forms came from a group called the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. The group is more commonly known by its acronym, ACORN. Cairncross said RNC officials "commend the vigilance" Ashe...

RALEIGH, N.C. — Republican National Committee officials say they aren't surprised to hear a Durham County elections official suspects voter registration forms gathered by a community activist group may be fraudulent. The RNC's chief counsel, Sean Cairncross, on Friday said the group, Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, has a history of gathering fraudulent or incomplete voter registration forms. Cairncross disputes ACORN's claim that it is a nonpartisan organization. The Herald-Sun of Durham reported Friday that Durham County elections director Mike Ashe asked state elections officials to check about 80 registration forms for possible fraud. The registrations were among...

Consider this post pure speculation. But Dome noticed this recent report on CBN, a Christian news outlet, about Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's upcoming "Faith, Family and Values" tour. The Brody File is told that top faith surrogates will hit the trail for Obama. Some of those high profile figures include Former Indiana Congressman and pro-life Democrat Tim Roemer, Catholic legal scholar Doug Kmiec, and author Donald Miller. You can also expect a soon to be named Evangelical North Carolina (red state) Congressman to travel the country as well. Now, we can't confirm this report, so take it with a...

Pat McCrory has the lead in a new poll. According to a recent poll by SurveyUSA, the Republican gubernatorial candidate had 49 percent, Democrat Beverly Perdue had 41 percent and Libertarian Mike Munger had 5 percent. Five percent of respondents were undecided. "Compared to an identical SurveyUSA poll released four weeks ago, McCrory is up 5 points and is in the lead for the first time; Perdue is down 6 points and trails for the first time," the pollsters write. The survey of 671 likely voters was conducted between Sept. 6 and 8. The margin of error is plus or...

Maybe political conventions don't matter. That seems to be the conclusion from Public Policy Polling, a Democratic firm, and the conservative Civitas Institute, which both released new poll results this week. Officials with both groups said their latest polls showed that the presidential candidates got little or no bounce with North Carolina voters as a result of the recent national conventions. The Civitas poll shows that Republican John McCain was the choice of 43 percent in a survey of 600 registered voters and that Democrat Barack Obama was the choice of 42 percent. When leaners were included, McCain's numbers were...

In an election for President of the United States in North Carolina Tuesday, Republican John McCain suddenly and breathtakingly surges to a 20-point win over Democrat Barack Obama, 58% to 38%, according to this latest exclusive SurveyUSA election poll conducted for ABC11-WTVD.

In an election for North Carolina Governor Tuesday, September 9th, 8 weeks to the vote, Republican Mayor of Charlotte Pat McCrory seesaws into the lead over Democratic Lieutenant Governor Beverly Perdue 49% to 41%, according to this latest SurveyUSA election tracking poll conducted exclusively for WTVD-TV in Raleigh. This poll asked of 671 likely voters the following question (more details on poll collection at bottom): If the election for a North Carolina Governor were today, would you vote for (choices rotated) Republican Pat McCrory? Democrat Beverly Perdue? Or Libertarian Mike Munger? 49% Pat McCrory (R) 41% Beverly Perdue (D) 5%...

In an election for North Carolina Governor today, 09/09/08, 8 weeks to the vote, Republican Mayor of Charlotte Pat McCrory seesaws into the lead over Democratic Lieutenant Governor Beverly Perdue 49% to 41%, according to this latest SurveyUSA election tracking poll conducted exclusively for WTVD-TV in Raleigh. Compared to an identical SurveyUSA poll released four weeks ago, McCrory is up 5 points and is in the lead for the first time; Perdue is down 6 points and trails for the first time. Libertarian Mike Munger, a professor at Duke University, takes 5% of the vote today, unchanged from one month...

Mccain is up by 20 points in NC up from 3 points in August. Also take a look at the PA, OH, IN, MI polling. Don't look at the average, look at the post convention poll numbers. Where Zero is ahead he is up by 1 point or 2.

DENVER — North Carolina Democrats are cautiously optimistic that Barack Obama can break a long losing streak for the party in November. The state hasn't voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter in 1976, but long-time political observers said they believe the dynamics of this year's election give Obama a chance to outdistance Republican John McCain at the polls. "When I say the state's in play, I mean I think he can win it, and I think he can," Gov. Mike Easley said. Easley cited the strong Obama organization on the ground in North Carolina and a renewed...

John Edwards' sins aren't the only headline boosting North Carolina into the national spotlight. Barack Obama is angling to win this perennially red state, along with a number of others once thought securely Republican. Why's that significant? Because a victory here would break the GOP's monopoly on the Southeast, causing a rift in the Electoral College that McCain would be hard pressed to overcome. That possibility is too tempting for Obama to resist. He's setting up shop in North Carolina -- nearly two-dozen shops....

Krzyzewski Is Burned for Showing a Political Bent By SELENA ROBERTS It wasn't as if the coach whose reputation could pass a white-glove test threw a campus keg party, but Mike Krzyzewski's campaign bash on Duke grounds left him scolded just the same. It wasn't as if the coach who rinses Cascade clean raised money to buy off recruits, but his fund-raiser for the Republican Elizabeth Dole was turned into an ethical violation in the Tar Heel State. It wasn't as if the coach with the nasally voice of a man in need of Nyquil shouted "Blue Devils for Dole!"...

Obama Says He'll 'Need to Win' North CarolinaLast Edited: Tuesday, 19 Aug 2008, 10:02 PM EDT By MIKE BAKER Associated Press Writer RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Democrat Barack Obama said Tuesday he will "need to win" in North Carolina in November, asking supporters to fight for the White House as both presidential candidates continue to open their wallets to compete in the state. Obama and Republican rival John McCain have both been expanding staffs in North Carolina, underscoring the precariousness of polls in a state that hasn't voted for a Democratic presidential candidate in more than three decades. "We've got...

Democrat Barack Obama will have to overcome tepid support from white voters and their high regard for Republican John McCain as an honest and principled leader if he intends to win North Carolina in the presidential election. Obama has said he can bring traditionally Republican states into play, particularly in the South. He launched his general election campaign in Raleigh, has aired TV ads in North Carolina and has opened more than a dozen campaign offices across the state. But a new poll from The Charlotte Observer and NewsChannel 36 shows that North Carolinians believe McCain would be a better...

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., on panel that oversees federal agency - TVA has approved a water-access deal for a development group whose investors include U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., who sits on a committee that exercises oversight of the federal utility. On June 3, TVA CEO Tom Kilgore approved a transaction that provides 145 feet of water-access rights along the shoreline of Watts Bar Reservoir in Roane County to an entity called The Cove at Blackberry Ridge LLC. In exchange, The Cove agreed to relinquish 150 feet of water-access rights in Rhea County and also provide approximately $15,000 for...

Today we update North Carolina where there's a bit of a surprise. * North Carolina: Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole's leads Democratic challenger Kay Hagan 46 percent to 41 percent with Libertarian Chris Cole drawing 7 percent and 5 percent undecided in a SurveyUSA poll conducted Aug. 9-11. This is the first time SurveyUSA included Cole in its poll, and it observed: "Hagan is flat, Dole is down. Cole gets 11% of male votes today, siphoning key votes Dole needs to win. Cole gets 12% of young votes today, siphoning key votes Hagan needs to win. Cole gets 9% of the...

Survey USA seems to be getting back into the state polling game. Yesterday it was Virginia and earlier today was Kentucky. Now they have released a new poll from North Carolina that shows John McCain slipping slightly and sees his lead falling to 4%. PRESIDENT - NORTH CAROLINA (Survey USA) John McCain (R) 49% Barack Obama (D) 45% In the race for US Senate, Elizabeth holds a 5% lead over Democratic challenger Kay Hagan. US SENATE - NORTH CAROLINA (Survey USA) Elizabeth Dole (R-inc) 46% Kay Hagan (D) 41% And in the race for Governor, Democrat Bev Perdue holds a...

Two New Polls: FL(InAv) McCain 48% Obama 44% NC(SVUSA) McCain 49% Obama 45%