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This is an appeal to readers here who are residents of Durham County and who are outraged (as I am) at the behavior of Mike Nifong as Durham’s District Attorney. The events of last week turned November’s election from an uncontested election for Nifong into a recall election for Mr. Nifong.

Lewis Cheek, and our own signatures on the petitions which got his name on the ballot, have given us an opportunity to vote for Cheek and Elect Anybody But Nifong. The Cheek campaign committee and doubtless many others in the county are looking to see how the public reacts to the two press conferences last week.

I ask that you join me as Durham residents to seize the day to better our justice system by writing letters to the editors of the HeraldSun and the News & Observer, giving all the good reasons why you are voting for Lewis Cheek to elect Anybody But Nifong. Be sure to identify yourself as a Durham resident. If you would like help composing your letter, please email letgovernordecide@yahoo.com

HeraldSun: Letters are limited to 250 words. You can email or use the form provided at the link below. If you email, be sure to visit the website listed to see what information the H/S requires in an email submission. email: letters@heraldsun.com You can also use the H/S form at: http://www.heraldsun.com/tools/letterstoed...dLetter=letters

News & Observer: Letters are limited to 200 words. A form is provided at: http://www.newsobserver.com/484/story/433256.html

Mr. Nifong has asked for a Durham solution. Please help get this campaign off the ground to ensure a solution that is good for Durham.

Stay tuned for updates, and thanks to all of you for considering my request.

An ABN victory is not as far fetched as many might think. Here are the results of May 2 primary:

Mike Nifong- 11,168 45%
Freda Black- 10,269 42%
Keith Bishop-- 3,288 13%

--http://abclocal.go.com/three/wtvd/election/race190.htm

Here is a profile of Durham voters from the hnn blog:

According to the latest voter registration figures, Durham County has 27,070 registered Republicans, 24,566 of whom are white. The county has 86,621 registered Democrats, 46,586 of whom are black. So the demographic bloc supportive of Nifong's behavior formed a majority of the Democratic electorate, while those most likely to be alienated by his tactics couldn't vote in the primary.

As the director of the Durham County Board of Elections noted the day after the primary, "We had a lot of irate, irate Republicans who couldn't vote for district attorney."

--http://hnn.us/blogs/entries/25357.html

Factoid-- Nifong spent $66,000 in his primary campaign, and was last repored to have just under $2,000 in remaining campaign funds.

I think the Cheek/ABN campaign is going to be very interesting. I like to think of it as the Cheek/ABN ticket - as in Bush/Cheney, for example. Here are some things I've been wondering about--

1. Cheek said he would need to raise about $100,000 to run an effective campaign. Is that in line with what the Cheek/ABN people in Durham are thinking for their campaign?

2. Will Cheek's campaign manager be involved?

3. Since it's not a Federal election, I assume McCain-Feingold does not apply. Are there any NC campaign finance laws that might affect fundraising?

4. How much potential do you see in the Duke student body as a source of voters for the Cheek/ABN ticket? They CAN vote in Durham, and I think they have until early October(?) to register - I'm not 100% sure of the deadline.

5. How long before someone comes up with a poster with the slogan "Show your Cheek to Nifong" with the an appropropriate graphic accompanying it?

Look who's joined us! The famous jmoo of the CTV boards fame. Like Mike Nifong (the poster -- not the DA), jmoo has put reporters to shame by showing them how it's done. jmoo went to the courthouse and got the 17-page motion to get rid of that quasi-gag order. She also got the gag order and she quizzed Osborn and chatted with Victoria Peterson.

Welcome, jmoo. We're a far cry from CTV.