GOP Candidates Launch '04 N.C. Gov. Race

The Associated Press ^ | 6/1/03

[LdSentinal]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The four Republican candidates for governor in 2004 have begun jockeying for position within their party.

On Saturday, state Senate Minority Leader Patrick Ballantine officially announced his candidacy at the state Republican Convention. He joined former Charlotte mayor Richard Vinroot, Davie County commissioner Dan Barrett and Southern Pines businessman George Little.

Each used everything from public opinion polls to video images of exploding fireballs in an effort to show he is the right candidate to oust Democrat Mike Easley.

The quartet repeatedly portrayed Easley as "a do-nothing governor" who has presided over a tanking economy, raised taxes, mismanaged the state's fiscal affairs and ducked appearances with President Bush at military bases.

"I regret that each time he came, our governor chose not to join him there," Vinroot told nearly 1,000 delegates meeting at the Charlotte Convention Center. "As a veteran, I think that is a disgrace."

Ballantine, who has served as Republican leader in the Senate since 1998, launched his campaign with a speech and four-minute video produced by the same California consultant who made TV commercials for U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

The consensus among delegates was that Vinroot starts the race as the front-runner. The 62-year-old who played basketball for Dean Smith at North Carolina fell short in bids for the Executive Mansion in 1996 and 2000.

A poll taken last month for The News & Observer of Raleigh showed 38 percent of the voters had a favorable view of Vinroot, and 27 percent had an unfavorable view. The comparable figures for Easley were 46 percent favorable and 33 percent unfavorable.

"He starts closer to Easley then he did last time," said Carter Wrenn, a political strategist advising Vinroot. "Among Republicans, Richard is going to have complete name ID, and George and Patrick are going to have to climb that mountain. But that is a hard mountain to climb, and it's going to take a lot of work and a lot of money."

Ballantine is touting himself as someone who is a fresh face but also well-versed in state issues.

"People like Vinroot the person," Ballantine said. "But they don't like Vinroot the candidate, and they see that he has failed in his several attempts to run for statewide office. They are hungry for a winner."

Little, 61, an insurance agent and longtime GOP activist. is stressing his business background and as a leader in the community college system.

Barrett, 44, a Winston-Salem attorney, is probably the least known of the GOP hopefuls. He is chairman of the Davie County commissioners. He said the state needs new leadership.

"We need leadership in Raleigh, and we need it now," Barrett said.