[JohnnyZ]

NC Ping request -- I'm posting this on Campaign Central and I figure a lot of folks will miss it but I want to get more election stuff over here.

The 5th district Broyhill development mentioned above has potentially very significant ramifications for Vernon Robinson's candidacy, which many of my pingees are interested in. We are now guaranteed a runoff (no candidate with 40%) but how much of a base Foxx and Broyhill share is beyond my knowledge of the candidates and district. Both are threats to reach the runoff, but if they split support they could ensure Vernon makes the runoff. Prognostication is pretty much guesswork at this point.

About the statewide races, we're starting to put together a good slate of candidates:

Governor: Ballantine or Cobey, most likely
Lt Guv: Bill Boyd, conservative former legislator, cancer survivor and head (?) of the state Christian Coalition but Harold Brubaker (RINO ringleader) ally plus probably state rep Gregg Thompson.
Treasurer: Greensboro lawyer and business owner Ed Meyer, bidding to become the first (?) statewide elected Hispanic (though he's not pushing that angle) -- he's a pro-life Catholic Reagan conservative, and he'd probably be the first statewide elected one of those too!
Auditor: Les Merritt is running again after losing by 0.5% in 2000
Agriculture: Steve Troxler is running again after losing by a similar tiny margin in 2000
Superintendent of Public Instruction: Michael Barrick is running again after losing by a small margin to an incumbent -- the seat is now open.
Attorney General: See article above
Secretary of State: no takers so far?
Labor: incumbent Republican Cherie Berry
Insurance: no takers so far


Barrick, Merritt, and Troxler are all strong candidates who were hurt by (Vinroot) a weak top (Vinroot) of the ticket (Vinroot) in 2000, as the Dems almost swept the statewide races.

[JohnnyZ]

Those percentages were a little off:

2000 Election
Ward (D) 53
Barrick (R) 47

Meg Scott Phipps (D) 51 (now on her way to prison)
Troxler (R) 49

Campbell (D) 51
Merritt (R) 49

[mykdsmom]

NC Ping

[Impy]

Who did Vinroot beat in the primary? Anyone who could have beaten Easley?

[Clintonfatigued]

Thank you for keeping us informed on these important Congressional races. Your posts are always very interesting and informative.

[fieldmarshaldj]

NC discussion *ping*

It's just amazing that the 'Rats caught all the breaks for NC statewide offices in '00. Surely we'll capture a few, most notably the Scott-Phipps office, this time around.

I'm hoping we'll beat Easley, but I don't think we're seeing the critical mass yet to take him down. JZ, I know you're more a Cobey man and I'm a Ballantine supporter (fortunately, this ain't an Ah-nold vs. McClintock choice, since both Pat & Bill are good guys).

I'm hoping Mr. Robinson gets the nomination outright, though with such a crowded field, is probably too slim a chance, but you never know...

I see you mentioned the named Harold Brubaker, the former Speaker of the House from '95-'99. I didn't realize he was a RINO, that's too bad... :-(