Tillis, as Speaker of the NC House, led an absolute conservative revolution in legislation, including reduced taxes, slashing of entitlements, the passing of voter ID, and much more. He became public enemy #1 of those who found these reforms abhorrent -- Revs. Barber, Sharpton, and Jackson; the New York Times; the Charlotte Observer; the [Raleigh] News & Observer; the Moron Monday movement; and more. But, curiously, he didn't get enough credit from those who welcomed the reforms. Perhaps they think that legislation writes itself.
Dr. Brannon seems a bright and engaging fellow with good ideas, and seemed to model himself after Dr. and now Senator Paul of Kentucky. But unlike Sen. Paul, who led a taxpayer revolt of sorts in Kentucky before he ran for the Senate, Dr. Brannon has, as far as I know, done nothing in the political arena prior to jumping into the race. He talked a good game, but what has he done? We don't need, or even want, a lifelong politician, but surely some political activism or legislative experience before jumping into a race of this importance is a good thing.
And as far as Rev. Harris, who seems to think the Earth is 6,000 years old, is concerned, well, I'll follow my late mother's advice: if you can't say something nice, say nothing.
In any event, the Primary is over. With 90% of the vote in, Tillis is still over 45%; Brannon is next with just over 27%. Tillis ran particularly well in the strongly Republican areas of the Piedmont -- Randolph, Davidson, Cabarrus, Stanly, Moore, Iredell, Lincoln, Wilkes, etc., and almost as well in the larger counties like Mecklenburg, Wake, and Guilford. He also did surprisingly well on the coast, a long way from his base, taking comfortable pluralities in New Hanover, Carteret, Brunswick, and Dare.
The race against HaganObama (as she will be known by November) will receive national attention.
Brannon was my preference, but Tillis is a good candidate.