Right, I know deals can be worked out. I know one possible resolution Nifong might have in mind is dropping the charges after he wins the election. I do think these charges might well have dropped after the primary had this not gotten so public.
He is boxed in somewhat here. If he drops these charges, he maybe seals his fate now as far as being sued and maybe charged with a crime.
Durham County Elections
2004 Presidential results
Kerry 74,524
Bush 36,614 on 73% turnout countywide.
sample black precinct White Rock 660 vs 37.
2001 Mayoral City voters
Bell 16,525
Tennyson 16,040
(incumbent)
http://www.durhamcountync.gov/departments/elec/Elections_Archive.html
The opposition must generate a very strong turnout in order to have any chance.
With the advent of one-stop early voting which is now open, getting people to the
polls NOW would be a good strategy. A stealth approach. They have two weeks
to rake the ballots in.
I think Nifong fully expected one of the boys to plea bargain and incriminate the others. He figured there would be so much pressure on them that one would crack- even if no crime occurred. Sending the DPD into Duke dorms, the suspicious email, arresting Mustafa, the line-ups, the TV interviews, etc, all were designed to intimidate the boys into plea bargaining. He must have been certain it would be easy! Contrary to his opinion in the beginning, I believe that Nifong now realizes that he put the power of his office behind a sham. He is in way too deep, now, though. His only slim hope lies with a persuadable jury. A conviction, even if overturned would be salvation.