Posted on 07/22/2004 6:31:45 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj
July 22, 2004 at 16:57:24 PDT
Ex-Charlotte Mayor Drops GOP Governor Bid By GARY D. ROBERTSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -
Former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot said Thursday he will not seek a runoff for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, leaving former state Sen. Patrick Ballantine as the nominee to challenge Gov. Mike Easley in November.
"I have made a spiritual decision in this case," Vinroot said. "My choice today is not to call for a runoff. I'm going to respect the decision of the voters."
Ballantine finished slightly ahead of Vinroot in Tuesday's six-person primary, with each getting about 30 percent of the vote. Since neither candidate collected 40 percent, Vinroot had the option of demanding a runoff Aug. 17.
The decision gives Ballantine an extra four weeks of campaigning against Easley, who is seeking a second term. Analysts said a drawn-out GOP campaign would have played to Easley's advantage, allowing him to sit on a large amount of cash while the Republicans beat each other up.
The decision came as a surprise to Republican officials, who unsuccessfully scoured their headquarters for a Ballantine campaign sign to put on the lawn as soon as Vinroot finished his announcement.
Vinroot's decision ended his third consecutive unsuccessful run for governor. In 1996, he lost in the Republican primary. In 2000, he won the nomination, but lost to Easley.
The two Republicans later held a joint news conference in which Vinroot, 63, said he wanted to help Ballantine, 39, defeat Easley.
"This is a fine young man," said Vinroot, wrapping his arm around Ballantine's shoulder. "And he'd make a fine governor."
Easley immediately tried to frame the race around education, saying Ballantine would not fund schools adequately.
A Ballantine spokesman did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
That was classy.
Have you seen the UNCLASSY John & Patsy Ramsey on MSNBC running for election in the REPUBLICAN PARTY in Michigan?
http://www.supportramsey.com/default.asp
I can't imagine anyone voting for him.
*ping*
Sickening, not to mention bizarre. I thought these cretins were 'Rat fundraisers in Boulder, Colorado ?
Already posted here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1176548/posts
Aw, fudge.
Would you like to be added to the NC Ping list? Then you'll be among the first to know...
You should have heard Patsy Ramsey saying that she knew that people were wondering where they were and what they were doing because they have been out of the news for a couple of years. Well, no, actually I could care less. When she gave out the website address I did go over and send them a message (she asked for it). I'm sure it's obviously not what they were expecting since I compared them to O. J. Simpson still looking for the killer.
Who do you think killed JonBenet ? I believe the mother actually did the deed... and Lord knows what the father may have been doing to the poor little child prior to that.
I guess you could place me on it for a limited time, as long as it is restricted to just state election stories. I didn't realize the story was from earlier in the day, so much for the AP being johnny on the spot. :-P
I believe that Patsy killed her and John helped to cover it up. They are disgusting, IMO.
I wouldn't vote for him. Even the current rep said he wouldn't vote for him, and if the dem is pro-life and pro-2a, he'd consider endorsing him.
If this creep gets the nomination, that will be an even bigger embarrassment for the state GOP than if Joe Schwarz takes the Congressional nod in the 7th. :-(
LOL. The Ramsey's were guests last night on South Park, along with OJ and Condit.
He'd be our Jim Moran and then some. Or even Gary Condit.
Hey, I'm from Tennessee... *cough* I don't even want to mention that "thing's" name.
Does John Ramsey wear a merkin, too ?
Very poorly done website. In Mozilla the page doesn't display correctly and the links don't work right.
Hmmmmmm
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.