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Turning the tide in Durham

Ruth Sheehan, Staff Writer, N&O, Published: Oct 30, 2006 12:30 AM

To most of us, the Duke lacrosse case is such a disaster that Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong, up for re-election, should be preparing for a trouncing.

But not, apparently, in Durham.

As unfathomable as it might be, a News & Observer/WRAL-TV poll released last week showed Nifong with a substantial lead. In the poll of 600 likely voters in Durham County, 46 percent said they planned to vote for Nifong; 28 percent for Lewis Cheek (the county commissioner who is the Anyone-But-Nifong candidate) and 2 percent for write-in Republican candidate Steve Monks. (It's not too late to bow out, Steve. Don't be the spoiler.)

Two of the most influential political groups in the county, the People's Alliance and the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, have endorsed Nifong -- with no reference to his handling of the Duke lacrosse case, mind you.

The Alliance endorsement cites Nifong's quarter-century in the prosecutor's office. A spokeswoman for the Durham Committee told the Durham paper her group was focused on quality-of-life issues in its endorsements.

Why would these two groups choose Nifong over Cheek?

In part, I'm sure, there is a hesitance to surrender votes to a candidate (Cheek) who hasn't campaigned and will not serve, forcing the governor to come in and appoint. (Ahem, just like he appointed Nifong.)

But also, in a strange way, Nifong has become a symbol of Durham to the nation. And in Durham, as in most dysfunctional families, it may be OK to holler and throw lamps at one another within the family, but let an outsider criticize and, honey, watch out.

Durhamites are tired of seeing their city mischaracterized and maligned.

A friend of mine from Durham recently visited Philadelphia and had lunch with a woman whose own city, according to the FBI, is one of the most dangerous in the country.

Yet this woman said she'd never send her child to school in Durham: too violent.

My friend was steamed.

Whether halfway across the country or a half-hour up the road, we outsiders might be appalled at Nifong's handling of the Duke lacrosse case, but on this one, Durham voters are in the driver's seat.

At a rare news conference (since he shifted from blabbermouth Mike to mute Mike), Nifong noted that "this case remains a Durham problem, and it demands a Durham solution."

Too true.

I just hope the voters of Durham understand that the general election is not, in fact, a referendum on their loyalty to Durham. In many ways, it is not even a referendum on Nifong.

Much as they might wish it were otherwise, this DA's race is a referendum on the Duke lacrosse case.

If Nifong wins, how can he do anything but take this case to trial?

That is what's so scary.

At this paper, and in this column, my colleagues and I have written plenty about prosecutors with tunnel vision, who press forward with flawed cases at any cost.

Here's a chance for voters to say, "Not here. Not in Durham." Durham voters can set this case before new eyes.

If only they would.

http://www.newsobserver.com/145/story/504445.html

* Not much help from Ruth. Maybe Durham represents a process of 'devolution'.