GOP candidates take aim at (NC Gov.) Mike Easley

News & Observer ^ | Jan. 10, 2004 | AMY GARDNER

[jern]

For whatever reason the online version left off an important graph.

If the 2004 election for governor were held today, would you vote to re-elect Mike Easley, would you consider voting for another candidate or would you vote to replace Easley?
46% Re-elect
30% Consider another candidate
24% Replace

If the Republican primary election for governor were held today, which of the following candidates would you vote for?

Vinroot 27%
Ballentine 16%
Cobey 14%
Barrett 3%
Shubert 2%
Undecided 38%

[jern]

hit the list

[Support Free Republic]

Rank	Location	Receipts	Donors/Avg		Freepers/Avg		Monthlies
	District of Columbia						10.00	1

Thanks for donating to Free Republic!

Move your locale up the leaderboard!

[upchuck]

NC ping!

[No Dems 2004]

Can anyone fill me in on what kind of governor Mike Easley has been? I've been impressed by his unwavering support for the death penalty, in the face of severe pressure from the left (Dem state senate approved a moratorium) - Easley has refused to stay most, if not all, executions in the state that have come before him.

But, how has he been on other issues?

[JohnnyZ]

I dunno, I think Easley's numbers are pretty good. He hasn't done anything unpopular, mostly 'cause he hasn't done ANYTHING. Well, he raised taxes, but I'm sure he'll come out with "I wanted a lottery, but the leg. raised taxes."

But the Republican nominee will have a ways to go to make his case and get his message out, and might not have much time if the primaries are pushed back.

I'm not sure if Barrett or Shubert have enough time to raise their poll numbers. I think it depends how soft Vinroot's 27% is. I guess we'll see in February, or whenever the next poll comes out, and in the Meck GOP straw poll -- if he can't win in Charlotte, he's toast.

[JohnnyZ]

But, how has he been on other issues?

He raised taxes a lot.

He crashed a race car at Lowe's Motorspeedway.

He discontinued the tradition of letting kids trick-or-treat at the Governor's mansion.

He wanted a lottery but didn't get it.

He showed up for a photo op after the hurricane.

That's all I can remember -- the man puts me to sleep, he's so dull.

[No Dems 2004]

Hey Johnny, long time no speak.

Yeah, he sounds pretty much like a Democrat on most issues - any ideas on what he's like on abortion and gay 'rights'?

[Kuksool]

Easley is very pro-choice, although he doesn't advertise his stand very much. As NC Attorney General, he made prosecuting pro-life protestors a priority. Hopefully come November, the GOP Southern trend willl come to the Tar Heel State.

[TaxRelief]

Thank you, my friend.

I'm afraid we don't have anyone as great as your Mark Sanford.

[TaxRelief]

NC Ping* Let me or MYkdsmom or Constitution Day know if you want on or off the NCPing list or if you think you've been accidentally dropped or ....

[JohnnyZ]

I'm afraid we don't have anyone as great as your Mark Sanford.

Sure we do, but Walter Jones, Jr. isn't running.

[TaxRelief]

Can any of them do this?

Gov. Sanford Unveils 2004-05 Executive Budget "DIFFERENT APPROACH" CRITICAL TO CHARTING A NEW FISCAL COURSE FOR SOUTH CAROLINA

Columbia, S.C. - January 8, 2004 - Governor Mark Sanford today unveiled the first executive budget of his administration, a balanced, $5.1 billion, 301-page spending plan built around structural reform, efficiencies to the taxpayer, targeted prioritization of resources, sale of non-essential state assets, selected privatization, a dramatic reduction in annualizations and a commitment not to raise taxes.

Vinroot has proven himself unelectable; He wins the primary on name recognition, then loses the general election. Fern Schubert would be awesome: smart, organized, honest, and conservative. Barrett would be great, too.

Cobey will probably win the primary, though. I think he will be fine, he's solidly a social conservative, but he doesn't have the dynamic spark needed to fix this state.

[TaxRelief]

Who is Walter Jones, Jr?

[JohnnyZ]

Who is Walter Jones, Jr?

YANKEE ALERT!

Congressman Walter Jones, Jr. of North Carolina's Third Congressional District (east coast). Son on 13-term Democrat congressman Walter Beaman Jones, Sr. Sponsor of Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act.

See, you do know who he is!

He'd clean up in Democrat eastern NC and take out Easley 55-45.

[JohnnyZ]

Do you have the percent that George Little got?

[jagrmeister]

>* Former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot said he wants to lower the corporate income tax rate...eliminate taxes on manufacturers and force state agencies...State Sen. Patrick Ballantine of Wilmington said he wants to lower the corporate rate and repeal the capital gains tax.

They all sound like corporate shills. No wonder Rats are winning in a Republican state. You have to couch these pro-business policies in ways that make a direct appeal to the people: "I want to create jobs by lowering the corporate tax...". Unless people can see the immediate and direct appeal to them, these abstract policy proposals are meaningless and possibly seen as counter to their interests.

[Capt. Jake]

Vinroot's ads make the point that the purpose of lowering business taxes is job creation. Leave it to the media to omit the rationale.

By the way, I've known and worked with Richard for a long time. You will not find a better man. At 6' 8", he was not drafted for Viet Nam, so he volunteered.

[Kuksool]

I personally had preferred if Walter Jones Jr. ran the 2002 Senate seat instead of Liddy Dole. That way, the Tar Heel State would have 2 great Senators representing it in 2005, Jones and Burr.