Registered N.C. Republicans voted at higher rates than Democrats in dozens of counties this year, according to an analysis by Democracy North Carolina.
The turnout rate for registered Republicans was 50 percent statewide, the elections watchdog group reported, while the rate for Democrats was 44 percent. Thirty-three percent of unaffiliated voters cast ballots. Turnout overall was 44 percent.
"We're highlighting the differences to help understand what happened in 2010, but the numbers show that nobody can be proud of the voter participation rate for their party or sub-group," Bob Hall, Democracy North Carolina executive director said in a statement.
In 2006 and 2008, registered Democrats and Republicans voted at about the same rates.
This year, Republicans ages 66 and older outvoted their Democratic counterparts. And older voters cast ballots at a much higher rate than voters 18 to 25 years old - 60 percent vs. 18 percent.
Compared to the last mid-term election in 2006, black voter participation increased more than for whites. Black voter turnout increased from 29 percent to 40 percent, while turnout among white voters increased from 39 percent to 46 percent.
The next time N.C. Voters go to the polls, they may have to offer more than their names and signatures. They might need a photo ID.
Republicans who take control of the General Assembly in January want to make North Carolina the 10th state requiring voters to show a driver's license or other photo ID. House leaders hope to pass a bill in their first 100 days.
Supporters call it a common-sense way to avoid Voter Fraud.
"It's necessary to ensure the integrity of the entire system," says GOP Rep. Ric Killian, a Charlotte Republican who sponsored a similar measure in 2009.
Skeptics fear it would dampen turnout, particularly among the elderly and disadvantaged, who tend to vote Democratic. Some say it's simply unnecessary.
"It's largely addressing a problem that doesn't exist," says Chris Kromm, executive director of the Institute for Southern Studies in Durham. "You have a greater chance of getting struck by lightning than having a case of voter fraud."
But use of voter IDs is growing.
Since 2003, 12 states have enacted some form of ID requirement, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In addition to the nine states that demand a photo ID, 18 others require some form of identification.
Senator: It's 'common sense'
Republican Sen. David Rouzer of Johnston County said that "just makes common sense."
"My constituents, the overwhelming majority of them, are absolutely appalled that there is no required photo identification when you go and vote," he says.
ID proponents say they're concerned about voters misrepresenting themselves, voting more than once or engaging in some other type of fraud. How widespread the problem is is unclear.
In 2007 the New York University's Brennan Center for Justice issued a report saying "most allegations of fraud turn out to be baseless." An initial report by the federal Election Assistance Commission that year also concluded that fraud was rare, though a controversial final version said there was "a great deal of debate" about how widespread it was.
In North Carolina, state elections director Gary Bartlett says there were 18 cases of double-voting in 2008 out of millions of votes cast.
It's also unclear to what extent a photo ID requirement might depress turnout.
Indiana's experience
In Indiana, which has one of the country's most stringent ID requirements, 2.8 million people voted in the 2008 general election. A later study showed that 1,039 lacked a valid ID and had to cast a provisional ballot. They had 10 days to go to an elections office and either show an ID or sign an affidavit explaining why they couldn't.
Only 137 were ultimately counted.
"That probably undercounts people who were disenfranchised," says Michael Pitts, an Indiana University law professor who co-authored the study. "Others knew they didn't have an ID and didn't bother to vote."
NYU's Brennan Center says as many as 10 percent of eligible voters lack documents required by some ID laws. For some groups, the percentage is higher.
Jennie Bowser, an NCSL election analyst, says it's not clear how effective photo IDs would be in either preventing fraud or in stifling turnout.
"Unfortunately," she says, "there's not a whole lot of evidence to support the claims of either side."
Some see partisan motives behind the GOP efforts.
"Most of it is being driven by the erroneous perception of Republicans that the best thing that can happen to them is rain on election day," says Curtis Gans, director of the Center for the Study of the American Electorate. "A lot of Republicans believe they have a better chance of winning if the turnout's low."
But Killian says nobody should balk at an ID requirement.
"What's the harm in folks having to show identification to show they're a citizen?" he says. "That's not too much to ask to participate in this great democracy."
Just weeks after leading the state GOP to a historic election win, Tom Fetzer, the party chairman, said that he will resign in January, five months early.
Fetzer, 55, a political consultant and former mayor of Raleigh, has just started a family and said Saturday that he wanted to spend more time with his wife and 4-month-old son. In a news conference, Fetzer said he had told a state party committee about his decision earlier in the day.
"This is an entirely personal decision on my part," Fetzer said. "As a new husband and new father, I have other priorities now, which I need to tend to. As I told the [Republican] Executive Committee, I lived the first 54 years of my life for me, and now I'm living it for someone else."
Fetzer's star has risen greatly with his party's election success. He was credited with helping Republicans win both chambers of the General Assembly for the first time in more than a century. He also helped his friend U.S. Sen. Richard Burr to an easy re-election win.
He beefed up the party's fundraising after several election cycles in which Democrats routinely outspent Republicans by at least 2-to-1. The state party raised $3.3 million from July 1 to mid-October, more than double the amount raised two years ago.
Asked about persistent rumors that he planned to run for office again or become a lobbyist now that his party holds the reins of power in the legislature, Fetzer said he didn't plan to seek election and had no firm plans about his next job.
"I have had some overtures, but I have not even had preliminary discussions with anyone yet about what I might do," he said.
The intensity that he brought to the job took its toll. Fetzer said that one day this summer, he drove on party business from his home in Wilmington to Cherokee and back, covering more than 1,000 miles.
He said that several times he had left home in the morning before his son awoke and returned after he was asleep, and that he wanted to end that.
Still, he said, the job has been great in many ways.
"The weeks before the election were very exciting, because I had felt for 18 months that this was going to be a big election, and it was," Fetzer said.
"It's not many times in life - it's rare, actually, in my experience - that you work very hard for something and you are rewarded with a resounding victory, and that's what happened for us on election night."
As party chairman, Fetzer worked to undermine Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue to put his party in a better position to challenge her in 2012. He pressed the State Board of Elections to investigate her for unreported campaign flights. He also filed a complaint that led to Perdue, Senate leader Marc Basnight of Manteo and others returning more than $100,000 contributed illegally to their campaigns from a Wilmington businessman.
Fetzer said Saturday that adding the governor's office to the GOP's list of prizes was critical.
"As I told the Republicans gathered today, we just won the D-Day invasion. The Battle of the Bulge is in two years, and it will be the more important and decisive of the two here in North Carolina."
Fetzer told The Associated Press that former U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes has indicated that he would seek the chairman's job. Hayes lost his seat in 2008 to Democrat Larry Kissell.
N.C. Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, D-Dare, has been one of the most powerful individuals in state government since the early 1990s, but his long reign as the Senate's top leader appears to be at an end.
With an Anti-Incumbent mood running among voters in legislative elections, Democrats in North Carolina who dominated the General Assembly in the 20th and so far the 21st centuries will surely find Raleigh a far different place when the General Assembly reconvenes in 2011.
Democrat Bev Perdue will still be Governor for at least another two years, of course, but many things are likely to change
Republicans who have been thwarted in their legislative efforts will find a different atmosphere. The electoral change would open up new leadership opportunities for Republicans such as Sen. Bob Rucho of Charlotte and Rep. Thom Tillis of Mecklenburg.
The Senate changes include the biennial drafting of the state budget, for which Republicans have been laying plans for months to trim more than $3 billion from the state's roughly $20 billion operating budget. Some plans envision cutting up to 20 percent to make ends meet.
Perhaps just as important is the redrawing of congressional and legislative districts for the upcoming decade. Those districts must be revised every 10 years following the Census, and Republicans will have the chance to guide redistricting committees through the process for the first time in modern state history.
Also important to Republicans is Court of Appeals Judge Barbara Jackson's lead over Democratic Court of Appeals Judge Bob Hunter for the N.C. Supreme Court seat held by outgoing justice Ed Brady. Although these seats are nonpartisan, it's no secret that Jackson is a Republican, as is Brady. And her election would not only preserve a 4-3 Republican-Democrat split on the court, it will also give the N.C. court a majority of female justices. It's foolish to predict how justices will vote based on their political party, but it will comfort Republicans in redistricting lawsuits that the numbers at least appear to be on their side.
Democrats no doubt will now have second thoughts about their refusal to go along with Republican proposals in past years to create a nonpartisan commission to study demographic changes and draft new districts for the state's 13 congressional districts and 170 legislative districts. It will be another decade before districts could be redrawn, and Democrats will have time to ponder their lost opportunities - apparently from the back bench.
Voters who use ATM-style machines to cast ballots in Tuesday's election will be asked to read a notice instructing them to carefully review their selections and make sure they register correctly, a Federal Judge ordered Saturday.
U.S. District Court Judge Malcolm Howard ordered the North Carolina State Board of Elections and its executive director, Gary Bartlett, to have all Poll Workers tell each voter using the touch screens to read the alert, then ask to be notified of problems.
All precincts using the ATM-style devises must keep logs of complaints and how they're resolved.
State elections officials say the machines work and voters are aware that they should make sure their ballots are correct before they cast them.
Howard held a rare Saturday hearing - he said it was his first in two decades - to resolve the complaint before Election Day. Twenty-three counties will use touch-screen machines for voting Tuesday; none are in the Triangle.
Thomas Farr, the lawyer representing N.C. State GOP Chairman Tom Fetzer and local party officials and voters, said Bartlett knew of the touch-screen machine problems for weeks but did not do enough to remedy them.
The two sides offered vastly different assessments of the touch-screen iVotronic.
Farr said the machines caused widespread problems during the early voting period that ended Saturday.
After the hearing, Johnnie McLean, the state elections board deputy director, said the equipment works well.
"We have every confidence in the voting system that North Carolina has," she said. "I've seen no evidence that we should feel differently."
The GOP Lawsuit gave examples of voters who said they had to correct their ballots three times to cast their votes for Republicans, as they intended, rather than Democrats. The order doesn't get to the root of the problem of unreliable equipment, Farr said, but may result in voters examining their ballots carefully.
Susan Nichols, a special deputy Attorney General representing Bartlett and the elections board, told Howard an order was not necessary because Bartlett had already done, or planned to do, everything it instructed.
Elections board members don't want to imply "there are widespread problems not being addressed by the elections administration," she said.
Farr wanted the public notices to state the extra vigilance was required under a Federal court order. Nichols resisted, saying the board was worried about creating an impression that the elections had been taken over by a federal judge.
The voter alerts will not include information about Howard requiring them.
The North Carolina Republican Party on Friday filed a federal lawsuit over concerns about the operation of touch-screen Voting machines.
Party Chairman Tom Fetzer said Thursday that the GOP has received several complaints from voters trying to vote a straight Republican ticket that the touch-screen machines recorded their votes as a straight Democratic ticket.
"These machines have a history of being problematic," he said.
He said he suspects the error occurs when the screen is unsure of what the voter pressed.
"The voter's vote is defaulted to the top line, which in most instances is the Democratic line on the ballot," he said.
Johnnie McLean, deputy director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, said there is no default for the machines, which she said are recalibrated every morning to ensure they're working properly.
Thirty-five counties are using touch-screen machines for early voting, including Mecklenburg and Guilford.
Fetzer didn't say how many complaints have been lodged or where the voters lived.
McLean said the elections board has received "isolated" complaints from New Hanover and Craven counties. Some complaints are from Democrats who said the machines recorded their votes incorrectly for Republicans.
"We don't see a widespread issue," she said.
Fetzer said he wants warnings posted at the polls to alert voters of the potential problem. He also wants poll workers to retain daily printouts of vote totals to compare later with the tabulations provided by the touch-screen machines and to retain records of all complaints about the machines.
"We're not satisfied at all with the State Board of Elections' response to date," he said. "It's an incompetence situation at the State Board of Elections."
Andrew Whalen, executive director of the North Carolina Democratic Party, called Fetzer's allegations of voting improprieties "reckless and absurd."
"I can only assume he is trying to lay a groundwork of excuses for his party’s upcoming electoral failures or attempting to suppress turnout by alleging fraud when there is no evidence of it," Whalen said in a statement.
The North Carolina Republican Party on Friday filed a federal lawsuit over concerns about the operation of touch-screen Voting machines.
Party Chairman Tom Fetzer said Thursday that the GOP has received several complaints from voters trying to vote a straight Republican ticket that the touch-screen machines recorded their votes as a straight Democratic ticket.
"These machines have a history of being problematic," he said.
He said he suspects the error occurs when the screen is unsure of what the voter pressed.
"The voter's vote is defaulted to the top line, which in most instances is the Democratic line on the ballot," he said.
Johnnie McLean, deputy director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, said there is no default for the machines, which she said are recalibrated every morning to ensure they're working properly.
Thirty-five counties are using touch-screen machines for early voting, including Mecklenburg and Guilford.
Fetzer didn't say how many complaints have been lodged or where the voters lived.
McLean said the elections board has received "isolated" complaints from New Hanover and Craven counties. Some complaints are from Democrats who said the machines recorded their votes incorrectly for Republicans.
"We don't see a widespread issue," she said.
Fetzer said he wants warnings posted at the polls to alert voters of the potential problem. He also wants poll workers to retain daily printouts of vote totals to compare later with the tabulations provided by the touch-screen machines and to retain records of all complaints about the machines.
"We're not satisfied at all with the State Board of Elections' response to date," he said. "It's an incompetence situation at the State Board of Elections."
Andrew Whalen, executive director of the North Carolina Democratic Party, called Fetzer's allegations of voting improprieties "reckless and absurd."
"I can only assume he is trying to lay a groundwork of excuses for his party’s upcoming electoral failures or attempting to suppress turnout by alleging fraud when there is no evidence of it," Whalen said in a statement.
The Chairman of the N.C. Republican Party alleged Thursday that a programming flaw with touch-screen voting machines is causing votes intended for GOP candidates to be counted for Democrats.
Tom Fetzer, the Republican chairman, said that if the N.C. State Board of Elections does not immediately remedy the problem, the party's lawyers will be in federal court today seeking a statewide injunction.
The machines are being used for early voting in more than 30 counties, including Mecklenburg, Union, Catawba and Burke, according to the State Board of Elections. More than 500,000 people have already voted early statewide.
"We cannot have an election where voters in counties where the machines are used have less confidence that their votes are being accurately counted than in counties where optical scan ballots are used," Fetzer said. "It's an incompetent situation at the State Board of Elections. We believe that they knew of problems with the calibration of these machines up to two months ago."
Johnnie McLean, deputy director of the board of elections, said Thursday that her office has received no widespread reports of problems.
"In every election we will have scattered reports of machines where the screens need to be recalibrated," McLean said. "That sort of comes with the territory with touch-screen technology."
Data gathering
The GOP is compiling written statements from voters who said they tried to vote a straight-ticket Republican ballot, only to see their votes cast for Democrats on a final review screen.
Fetzer said the problem appears to occur when the touch screen does not register the voter's selection, after which it is programmed to record the vote to the first candidate listed in the race. Democrats are listed before Republicans on the electronic ballots and therefore get the vote.
The machines in question are manufactured by ES&S and programmed and maintained under a statewide franchise by Printelect, a company based in New Bern.
Printelect was recently at the center of questions about high prices charged for paper ballots and sizable donations by the company's owner, Owen Andrews, to high-ranking Democrats that include Gov. Bev Perdue, who appoints the elections board. Andrews has also enjoyed a close relationship with top election officials, for whom he provided catered parties and cruises on his 40-foot fishing boat.
Fetzer said the GOP has heard about the machine problem from voters in about a dozen counties, but because all the machines were programmed by Printelect, it is logical to assume the problem is more widespread.
McLean said there is no truth to Fetzer's suggestion that the machines are programmed to favor Democratic candidates.
"That is wrong, just wrong," McLean said. "This is not any kind of unusual process with touch screens, but to say that the machines are programmed to default to Democrats is just wrong."
Kristin Mavromatis, a spokeswoman for the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, said her office had received five complaints about touch-screen equipment as of Thursday. In Mecklenburg, 36,000 people have voted early. Three of the complaints were from Republican voters, and two were from Democratic voters, she said.
One Republican voter reported trying to vote for Jim Pendergraph for Mecklenburg County commissioner, but Democratic candidate Jennifer Roberts' name appeared. Another Republican voter reported attempting to vote straight-ticket Republican and instead, Democratic candidates were checked.
Mavromatis said she thought the third Republican voter had the same complaint about straight-ticket voting.
The two Democratic voters said when they tried to vote a straight-ticket for Democrats, Republican candidates appeared.
Mavromatis said the machines involved had been checked and recalibrated, with no problems found.
"We take all complaints seriously," Mavromatis said. "But I don't feel it's an issue. I stand by our coding. I stand by our equipment."
McLean pointed out that voters using touch-screen machines are prompted by the software to review their selections before casting their ballot for tabulation.
Check your ballot
"It is incumbent on all voters before they cast their ballot to confirm that they are marked correctly," McLean said.
Andrew Whalen, executive director of the N.C. Democratic Party, accused Fetzer of making "reckless and absurd" allegations.
"For him to make such baseless claims I can only assume he is trying to lay a groundwork of excuses for his party's upcoming electoral failures or attempting to suppress turnout by alleging fraud when there is no evidence of it," Whalen said, in a written statement.
Republican Sen. Richard Burr, armed with a plump campaign treasury but with many voters still uncertain about him, launched his re-election bid Saturday, offering himself as a conservative counterbalance to the Democratic policies of President Obama and Congress.
Speaking to the N.C. State GOP convention, Burr pledged to work for smaller government, promising to defund the new health care insurance law and vowing to work to oppose the policies of President Obama.
"I will make this promise to you today," Burr told a convention breakfast. "If you help me in every way you can get re-elected Nov. 2, I will do everything in my power to see that no president ever apologizes for America."
The Winston-Salem conservative sharply criticized a raft of new laws passed by the Democratic majority in Washington. The stimulus package has made the economic recovery worse rather than better, he said. Calling deficit spending alarming, he compared the growing U.S. deficit with the economic crisis inGreece.
Although he said he would work to repeal the health care law he claims is increasingly unpopular, Burr said Obama would not sign any repeal.
"But I will do everything along with [Oklahoma Sen.] Tom Coburn and my colleagues to defund any effort to implement this health care bill," Burr said.
Burr was the central figure at the convention, giving two major speeches to the 800 delegates. For much of the year, the center stage of the U.S. Senate race has been held by the Democrats who will not choose their nominee until their runoff June 22.
But while Burr has been off stage, his campaign has been busy raising money and organizing.
Burr announced Saturday that his campaign had raised $10 million.
On Thursday night, Burr raised $450,000 at a fundraiser at the Duke Mansion in Charlotte, according to the Burr campaign. The event was co-chaired by Frank Dowd IV of the Charlotte Pipe & Foundry Co., Henry Faison of Faison Enterprises, former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, Tom Nelson, president of National Gypsum, Walter Price, a US Bancorp executive, and former state Rep. Ed McMahan.
Burr raised a like amount in April at the Greensboro home of Louis DeJoy and former U.S. Ambassador Aldona Wos, an event that featured U.S. Sen. John McCain.
In the 'danger zone'
For Burr this has been a challenging political season.
Polls have consistently shown him with a job approval rating under 50 percent - regarded as a danger zone for an Incumbent. At a time when the Democrats are on the defensive across the country, Burr and David Vitter of Louisiana are usually lumped together as the nation's most vulnerable Republican senators.
During the GOP primary, Burr was criticized from the right, especially for his vote for a bank bail-out last year, although he easily dispatched his three little known opponents to win 80 percent of the vote last month.
Although Burr spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on TV advertising in the spring, there is little evidence from the polls that it has improved his standing.
Burr says he doesn't believe the public opinion poll that shows his Democratic opponents close upon his heels. "I am pleased where we are," Burr said. "We are probably better off than where we designed."
Burr's modest standing in the polls is in part a reflection that after five years since he defeated Democrat Erskine Bowles, he is still not very well known. While he has worked on a few issues such as veterans issues and biomedical research, he has never gained the visibility of former Tar Heel senators such as Jesse Helms, Elizabeth Dole, Sam Ervin and John Edwards.
The seat has also been among the most difficult to hang on to in the country. Ervin in 1968 was the last senator to win re-election to the seat that Burr now holds.
Tom Fetzer, the state GOP chairman, told the convention Saturday that Burr was just the man to end the seat's historic jinx.
Quiet manner
Despite the conservative red meat delivered to the GOP on Saturday, Burr's self-deprecating style almost seems designed to draw little attention to himself. In an age of red-hot rhetoric and sound-bites, Burr's style is cool, almost professorial. He prefers detailed discussions of the national debt, and on Saturday a history of the Capitol, to subtly make his political points.
When the Senate is not in session, Burr frequently moves around the state, visiting businesses, schools, Veterans Administrations facilities and other places. It is all done in the typical Burr fashion - driving himself with no aides.
There is a fine line between open campaigning and being a senator. On Tuesday, Burr was carefully non-partisan, making no mention of his re-election or his potential opponents or the Democrats in Congress, as he visited a trade group in Durham, a charter school in Wilson and a Veterans Affairs clinic in Greenville.
"Everything that has been put together on my schedule has been a Senate request for the purpose of something I am working on right now," Burr said. He will not officially begin his campaign schedule until September, he said.
At the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants offices in a Durham office park, Burr warned about 150 employees gathered in a cafeteria that the federal government is "broke" and that the United States needs to get back in control of its finances.
During a question-and-answer session, Burr said if he were in charge he would reduce the size of government by 10 percent and look at ways to make entitlement programs more sustainable.
A the Sally Howard School, a charter school for the arts in Wilson, Burr became a civics teacher, dividing the 800 students into a House and Senate and showing them how a bill becomes a law - in this case legislation to provide free ice cream to schoolchildren on Thursdays.
"I Love My Job"
He submitted to dozens of questions from the students.
"For the most part,'' Burr said, "I love my job."
During his visits, Burr was followed by a Democratic Party tracker, who videotaped his comments. When Burr visited manufacturing plants in Edenton, Wadesboro and Pineville, the N.C. State Democratic Party attacked him for voting for trade agreements that have cost the state jobs.
Though Burr said he is not yet in campaign mode, his campaign office in Winston-Salem is. Burr notes that there are 10,000 people affiliated with his Facebook page. There are coordinators in every county. College organizations have recently been set up. In his trunk are Burr bumper stickers in various college colors.
"At some point," Burr said, "when you actually turn on the campaign, all of these pieces come together."
Cal Cunningham Bypasses Rival Elaine Marshall In Fundraising
Both N.C. Democratic Senate candidates Cal Cunningham and Elaine Marshall have had to scrap to find enough money to finance their campaigns.
They've appealed to family, friends, law partners and even entertainers such as Barbra Streisand and Clay Aiken.
Although Elaine Marshall had a two-month head start, Cunningham has significantly passed her in the money contest.
He has pulled in $737,499, compared with her $514,541, as of April 14, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
This is a modest sum compared with the $8.4 million raised by Republican Sen. Richard Burr, the man they would like to replace.
Here's a look at how Cunningham and Elaine Marshall have raised their campaign kitties as they prepare for the June 22 runoff, according to an analysis of campaign records by The News & Observer.
There's no place like home
Senate candidates often raise money nationally, but Cunningham and Marshall raised most of theirs in North Carolina. Here are their five top states:
Cunningham:
North Carolina - $489,018 (77 percent)
Washington, D.C. - $34,603 (5 percent)
California - $22,116 (3 percent)
New Jersey - $14,600 (2 percent)
Hawaii - $10,250 (2 percent)
Marshall:
North Carolina - $309,256 (96 percent)
Ohio - $5,000 (1 percent)
Washington, D.C. - $4,250 (1 percent)
California - $2,900 (1 percent)
South Carolina - $1,000 (less than 1 percent)
Regional split
Cunningham, who lives in Lexington and practices law in Winston-Salem, is strongest in the west, while Marshall, the secretary of state who has homes in Raleigh and Lillington, does better in the east. Here are their five top cities for donations:
Cunningham:
Lexington - $70,707
Winston-Salem - $66,014
Raleigh - $65,100
Chapel Hill - $54,472
Durham - $39,300
Marshall:
Raleigh - $72,370
Charlotte - $27,700
Chapel Hill - $16,600
Cary - $16,550
Asheville - $13,110
All in the family
Elaine Marshall has lent her campaign $71,500. Cunningham has not lent any money to his campaign, but family members have donated at least $23,000 to his political committee.
Legal Eagles
Both candidates are lawyers and receive considerable backing from lawyers. Marshall has strong backing from trial lawyers, receiving at least $38,325 from dozens of them.
Cunningham has received $19,650 from 38 lawyers at Kilpatrick Stockton, the firm where he is a partner. The 500-member law firm has represented such high-profile clients as Adidas, Blue Cross Blue Shield, British Petroleum, Google, Pepsi, Fox, Krispy Kreme andWachovia.
Hollywood
Cunningham has a somewhat star-studded donor list. He has received donations from singers Barbra Streisand and Clay Aiken; Alan Warner, president of Warner Brothers; and Dayna Bochco, a TV producer whose husband produced such series as "Hill Street Blues" and "L.A. Law."
Donors big and little
Marshall has received more of her money in small donations. Forty-three percent of her campaign donations came from people who gave less than $1,000, compared with 26 percent for Cunningham. Cunningham has tended to raise more from larger donations. Eighteen percent of Cunningham's donations came from individuals who gave $4,000 or more, compared with 4 percent for Marshall.
(These figures only apply to individual contributions, not political action committees.)
Lobbyists
A handful of Raleigh lobbyists whom Marshall regulates as secretary of state gave a total of $2,000 to her campaign. They are Coleen Kochanek, Frank Gray, Ed Turlington and Charles Wilkins.
Washington weighs in
Cunningham, who has the backing of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, has received $36,000 in contributions from political committees connected to Sens. Mark Begich of Alaska, Thomas Carper of Delaware, Carl Levin of Michigan, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Mark Warner of Virginia and Dick Durbin of Illinois.
Yesterday former candidate for U.S. Senate (Dem) Kenneth Lewis (an African-American) endorsed Elaine Marshall, Cal Cunningham's rival in the upcoming N.C. Democratic nominee U.S. Senate run-off election.
I would like for someone to please name ONE thing Elaine Marshall has actually done for North Carolina's Black Voters?
I mean really show me or tell me one thing!
I'll wait.
What's that I hear? Crickets?
Last news (or rumor) I heard about Elaine Marshall (current N.C. Secretary of State) was that she scrutinizes Black North Carolina Notary Public applicants more heavily than White applicants.
And....
That she rejects more Black North Carolina Notary Public applicants than White applicants. This includes Black North Carolina Notaries applying to have their commissions renewed.
With that said can someone please tell me one thing she has done to help North Carolina's Black community?
Lewis' endorsement of Marshall is just another example of scared Southern Black Politicians rubber stamping N.C. Democrat Incumbents for the sake of attracting Black Voters.
Or....
His endorsement could be the result of some sort of backroom deal. Maybe Marshall promised Lewis a job in Washington, D.C. if he supports her and delivers the Black vote to her on a silver platter.
Or...
Both Lewis and Marshall could just be angry and vindictive that the national Democratic Campaign Committee chose to back Cal Cunningham instead of them.
Who knows? It could be a combination of all three theories.
At least Cal Cunningham fought for our Freedom overseas while serving in the U.S. Army Reserves.
But what has Elaine Marshall done for ALL Americans?
In case anyone forgot serving yourself and your buddies doesn't count.
Lewis claimed during a forum in March of this year "We can't change a broken Senate simply by sending career politicians to Washington".
Excuse me!
But as N.C. Secretary of State for several years, isn't Elaine Marshall already an Incumbent and a Career Politician??
Man this guy (Ken L.) is so FAKE!
No wonder he lost the primary.
Now do you understand why I no longer throw my weight behind North Carolina's Black Politicians?
This is so sad but what's even sadder is the majority of North Carolina's Black Voters lack courage or guts to use their own minds when casting ballots in state and general elections.
Why do Black Voters need a Black Political Caucus organization or a Black "sell-out" Politician who really couldn't care less about their well-being (unless they run in Elite circles), to tell them whom to support for Public Office?
Most of North Carolina's Black Politicians are "Uncle Tom" sell-outs who only care about themselves and getting their palms greased anyway.
Didn't God Almighty give each Human Being born on planet Earth a mind of his or her OWN, to make their OWN decisions??
People please vote responsibly when you visit the polls this Fall.
For the record I am voting for Richard Burr however....
If I were voting for a Democrat U.S. Senate Candidate from this region it would definitely be Cal Cunningham NOT Elaine "Incumbent, hasn't done anything for North Carolina's Black citizens" Marshall!
Thanks for checking out the story related video and article below.
"I prefer Liberty with danger than Peace with Slavery". - Jean Jaqueas Rousseau
"A Slave is one who waits for someone else to Free him". - Rosellen Brown
After showing progress through the first three months of 2010 Bev Perdue's approval numbers have taken a step backward.
28% of voters in the state say they approve of her performance to 52% who disapprove. A month ago she had improved to a 32/47 spread.
Perdue's approval has declined because of decreased support from independents and Democrats. She was already about as low as she could get with Republicans. The drop with independents from 28/47 a month ago to 23/56 this month can probably be chalked up to an ever increasing anti-politician sentiment from those voters. Richard Burr saw a similar dip in his popularity with them since March, showing that's cutting across party lines. More worrisome for Perdue is that she continues to be under 50% within her own party. 44% of Democrats give her good marks this month while 33% of them say they disapprove of her.
If Perdue's numbers continue to be this poor she's likely to be a drag on Democratic legislative candidates this fall, and indeed North Carolina voters this month say they plan to support Republicans for the General Assembly by a 45-42 margin. That's thanks to an eye popping 47-18 edge with independents and also because 89% of Republicans plan to support their party while only 78% of Democrats are committed to theirs. The GOP continues to have its best chance in over a decade to gain control of the legislature.
Despite a rash of high profile Democratic scandals in recent years voters are pretty evenly divided on which party is more equipped to clean up state government. 41% say it's the Republicans while 39% choose the Democrats. That's just another indication the GOP won't get too far with the corruption issue. Voters are just too entrenched in their feeling that both parties are corrupt.
The short session is almost here, and it was the legislative session last year that dropped Perdue's approval numbers to their current low levels. She'll need to use this year's as an opportunity to come across as a more effective and decisive leader and try to change some of these opinions about her around before she becomes the star of Republican campaign ads across the state this fall.
Days after denying interest in a congressional run, Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory has opened the door to a rematch with Democratic Gov. Bev. Perdue.
In a Q&A with Raleigh's WRAL, McCrory, a Republican, was asked whether he would consider running for governor again or even the Senate.
"Yes," he replied. "Running a state-wide race was a great experience (except for election night!!!) and I am proud of the campaign we ran. We participated in (and most believe we won) every debate and proved that a candidate can run an effective, positive campaign.
We lived within our fundraising means, didn’t take any loans, and ended the campaign without any debt, just in the same manner I promised I would govern."
McCrory never addressed a possible Senate run, presumably against Democrat Kay Hagan in 2014. But he was critical of Perdue who, he said, "has done an about face on about everything she promised during our campaign."
"I definitely haven't closed the door on any future political options up to and including governor," McCrory told me this morning. "I think I'd be foolish to close doors."
Last week, after opting not to run for Congress from the 8th District, McCrory didn't want to talk about his political future. "Right now my total focus is on completing my term," he said.
1) Are you going to consider running for governor again or maybe even running for Senate?
Yes. Running a state-wide race was a great experience (except for election night!!!) and I am proud of the campaign we ran. We participated in (and most believe we won) every debate and proved that a candidate can run an effective, positive campaign. We lived within our fundraising means, didn’t take any loans, and ended the campaign without any debt, just in the same manner I promised I would govern.
2) Dear Mayor McCrory, first I hope that you take another run at the governor’s race in about three years. What do you think of the term so far of the current administration?
I believe the appointments for Secretary of Commerce (J. Keith Crisco) and Secretary of Transportation (Gene Conti) were actually quite good. However, the current administration has done an about face on about everything she promised during our campaign. Our new Governor has raised taxes, reduced mental health care, laid off teachers, and closed much needed prisons. There has been no effort to change the culture of how state government decisions are discussed behind closed doors. Campaign violations by the past and current Administration continue to be exposed well after the election.
3) How would you have handled the budget differently than our current governor? What would be your top three priorities at this time?
Before ever considering tax increases, I would have initiated major reforms of state government. I would have first made the budget process more transparent and open to scrutiny by both the public and media before the budget was adopted. My major priorities would have been:
1) Not to not raise taxes in order to maintain private sector jobs
2) Education reform
3) Strengthen public safety.
4) The new N.C. budget unfortunately has a tax increase and you vowed not to raise taxes in your race versus Perdue. What specifically would you have cut from the budget to prevent a tax increase?
I would have reduced bureaucracy and duplication in the University system, eliminated perks, such as state airplanes, and begun selling assets to reduce operating costs, in areas in which the state government does not need to be directly involved. For example, I would have transferred retail operation of the ABC liquor store system to the existing private sector stores, yet retained the much-needed revenue from those sales. The operation savings and the sale of assets would have been transferred to the budget deficit and to help retain teachers. I would have vetoed any effort to continue to subsidize out-of-state athletes with in-state tuition. I would have also started the process to allow offshore oil drilling to create much needed jobs and generate new revenue for the State.
5) Mayor McCrory: I am a life-long Democrat who seldom votes for a Republican because I ordinarily find my opinions to be diametrically opposed to the GOP's. You are different from most Republicans and I voted for you. I probably would vote for you again if I agree or see that your philosophy concerning health care reform is that it has to be changed. Therefore, my question is: What is your position concerning policy that N.C. can institute that will make health care universally accessible to all citizens, affordable and better than our current system which I see as a failure?
We need healthcare reform at both the federal and state level. However, many of the solutions coming out of Washington, D.C, would cause an even greater deficit and could actually rob the Medicare system of already limited revenue. I would propose major tort reform, especially to assist emergency room doctors in rural areas, reduce the number of state-required mandates so young people can afford to buy insurance in N.C., and I would look for more competition among insurance companies.
6) Mr. McCrory, how would you handle the Gas tax situation? Would you have done what Gov. Perdue did? I now wish you would have won the election.
I was a proponent of capping the gas tax, especially during these tough economic times. I would make sure our transportation expenditures are based upon four major factors:
1) Safety
2) Traffic congestion
3) Environment, and
4) Economic development, which is presently not the case.
I am an advocate for the State planning and partnering with local communities in developing a transportation plan with many choices, including roads, greenways, bikeways, and sidewalks to complement the needs of both small towns and large cities. Unfortunately, our State DOT is not as flexible as it needs to be and we still have a political formula of where and how we build and maintain roads in N.C. This must change.
7) PLEASE run again for governor in the next election. You came so close last time and I think you could win next time. I voted for you the first time, but many of my fellow educators thought Perdue was better for education. Could you please briefly explain what you would do for education? Thanks!
Education runs deep in my family. I obtained my N.C. teaching certificate after college and my sister was a teacher with Wake County schools until the latest round of budget cuts. My vision for the K-12 level is to decentralize the decision making and bureaucracy to allow principals and teachers more flexibility in teaching the basics, instead of just tests. I want to ensure teachers are backed up when addressing discipline problems in the classroom. I support immediately lifting the cap on charter schools to allow more choice for parents and students.
I believe the community college system needs to return to putting more emphasis on trade and technical education, as opposed to junior college curriculum. At the university level, we first must remove the politics and the culture of creating numerous levels of management outside of the classroom. I would also look at a process to eliminate duplication, course work among schools and introducing shared curriculum through more efficient, long-distance technology.
8) To what extent do you think that the major political parties are marginalizing their candidates and nominees by requiring them to march in lockstep with party lines rather than allowing them to speak/vote with their own conscience/values? If you do not, please explain.
The major problem with political parties is that they continue to gerrymander districts to guarantee elections at the local, state and federal level. This gives limited choices to voters at election time and also discourages any bipartisan cooperation. Most elections for state legislators are determined in the primary because of this political scheme. I believe party affiliation does give voters information as they go into the voting booth, but I hope people are also evaluating candidates based on past performance and the values they espouse and live up to.
9) What do you think was your biggest mistake in your campaign?
We thought our opponent was Beverly Perdue, when in fact, we underestimated the role and impact of the Obama organization and their ability to impact the Governor’s race by encouraging straight ticket voting. We didn’t know at the time that the Obama campaign had more than 300 paid staff members spread throughout the state and were pouring literally millions of dollars to make North Carolina competitive with a message to vote a straight-party ticket. We simply didn’t have the money to overcome those resources.
10) To what do you attribute your loss in the governor's election of November 2008? I thought you won the debates, and your experience topped Perdue's. Was your loss attributable to Obama's coat tails?
Most political experts would say that we won the debates and ran an effective and positive campaign – all without incurring any debt while being outspent by 3 to 1. Most political pundits would agree that we lost for four primary reasons:
1) First and most important was the Obama campaign and their unlimited resources to make North Carolina a contested state and encourage straight-ticket voting
2) The third party, libertarian candidate taking limited, but very important and valuable votes from our efforts
3) Weaker Republican national ticket which had little or no coattails
4) The economic meltdown in September and October while President Bush was in office no doubt also impacted the election.
Unfortunately, some voters believed the Perdue campaign’s shameless, inaccurate, and negative ads on radio and TV stations during the last four weeks. Despite these factors, I am very proud we received over 60 percent of the vote among those who voted specifically on election day. No matter the outcome, I am proud that our integrity and reputation are intact after the campaign. Overall, it was a wonderful, yet heartbreaking, experience.
Michael Steele got a much-needed boost on Friday in the form of a letter of support signed by 31 state GOP chairmen.
In the letter provided to CNN, the chairmen commend Steele's electoral record as "stellar," his fundraising efforts as "solid" and credit him with building "our Victory programs' ability to identify and deliver voters for Republican candidates."
Under Steele's leadership, the chairmen continued, "the RNC has the ability, focus, and drive to lead Republicans to a sweeping victory in November."
This show of support marks a departure from recent news signaling that the state apparatus of the Republican party might be turning on Steele. On Thursday, Tom Fetzer the Chairman of the North Carolina GOP party called on Steele to resign.
According to CNN, more state GOP chairmen are expected to sign on to the letter in he coming days.
Republican State Chairmen Line Up Behind RNC Chairman Michael Steele
State Republican leaders from around the country today quickly lined up to show their strong support the Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele for his strong record in winning elections, raising funds to support the Republican campaign, and creating a strong partnership with state parties.
As additional state leaders continue to sign on, 31 chairs have signed the following statement as of this moment:
As Republican Party state chairmen, we believe Chairman Michael Steele can lead the RNC to be a full partner with us this fall in our efforts to fire Nancy Pelosi and win Republican majorities in Congress and among governors. His record at winning elections has been stellar, his fundraising ability has been solid, and he has honed our Victory programs' ability to identify and deliver voters for Republican candidates.
The charge of any national Chairman is to raise money and win elections. With over $100 million raised, victories in Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts, and victories in 29 of 37 special elections, Michael Steele has demonstrated that under his Chairmanship the RNC has the ability, focus, and drive to lead Republicans to a sweeping victory in November.
The RNC under Chairman Michael Steele is a full partner with state committees, responsive to our needs, and intensely interested in providing the support necessary for victory. That process is not an easy process. Technology has had a great impact on the art of politics. That impact has required the RNC to adapt and change to work effectively in this modern environment. Change can sometimes be difficult. But the changes Michael Steele has brought to the RNC were essential for our party to adapt, and win, when we do not, for the moment, hold the White House or Congress.
We stand behind Chairman Steele as he continues to lead us on the path victory in November.
Randy Ruedrich, Alaska Ron Nehring, California Dick Wadhams, Colorado Chris Healy, Connecticut Tom Ross, Delaware Robert Kabel, District of Columbia Sue Everhart, Georgia Jesus Torres, Guam Jonah Ka'auwai, Hawaii Norman Semanko, Idaho Pat Brady, Illinois Steve Robertson, Kentucky Charlie Webster, Maine Audrey Scott, Maryland Jennifer Nassour, Massachusetts Ron Weiser, Michigan Tony Sutton, Minnesota Will Deschamps, Montana Mark Fahleson, Nebraska John Sununu, New Hampshire Jay Webber, New Jersey Harvey Yates, New Mexico Robert Tiernan, Oregon Rob Gleason, Pennsylvania Gio Cicione, Rhode Island Chris Devaney, Tennessee Dave Hansen, Utah Steven Larrabee, Vermont Pat Mullins, Virginia Luke Esser, Washington Reince Priebus, Wisconsin
N.C. Republican Party Chairman Tom Fetzer has added his voice to those seeking the resignation of national GOP Chairman Michael Steele.
“Recent events, regardless of who is to blame, have made it difficult if not impossible for you to lead the party in the direction that it needs to go,” Fetzer wrote in a letter to Steele today. “…I believe that the best service you can render to your party at this critical juncture is to graciously step aside and allow the party to move on from this current quagmire.”
Steele has been under fire from many Republicans, particularly since disclosures that the RNC approved a $1,900 bill at a Hollywood nightclub that features topless dancers simulating bondage and lesbian sex.
Critics have blamed Steele for a lack of oversight. But Fetzer may be the first state chairman to call on him to resign.
“I believe that we will have some measure of success this fall no matter what the RNC does or does not do,” Fetzer wrote. “But in order to maximize our opportunities this year, we need a strong, effective RNC that has the full faith and confidence of the conservative activists, volunteers and our donors.
“I can attest that many grassroots leaders I’ve talked to in the last few weeks are very aware of the recurring drama that is playing out at the RNC – allegations of fiscal irresponsibility, management and questionable activities – and they are disgruntled and concerned that the RNC, under your direction, is setting a poor example of the kind of leadership voters can expect if Republicans are elected.”
So Michael Steele (RNC's first Black Chair)finally admits the GOP could possibly be a "little" racist.
What a revelation!
That's exactly why I defected to the Democrats three years ago.
Prior to switching I was a proud Black Republican, voting for such GOP heavy weights as George W. Bush, etc.,
Hold it!
Before you throw stones I voted for Bill Clinton too!
Why?
I am NOT and have never been a Straight Ticket Voter for any party.
Just because Bill Clinton is not a Conservative Republican doesn't mean I can't find common ground with him.
Bill Clinton was reaching out to help Minority Voters.
The Republican Party wasn't.
I was born Black NOT a Democrat or a Republican!
I chose to become a Republican because of my personal values.
I am mainly referring to Anti-Abortion, Pro-Life, Fiscally Responsible values.
In fact I was a very loyal Republican who truly believed the Republican Party was open and receptive to all ethnic groups, including Minorities.
However...after living in Racist Charlotte, NC for 20+ years, I became fed up with being consistently ignored by local Republicans (even during election time) and decided to try the N.C. Democratic Party.
Big mistake!
People who visit my blog on a regular basis have discovered how I feel about North Carolina's Corrupt Democratic Party.
For example North Carolina's Public Schools are all reverting back to Segregation.
I believe such destructive behavior (practicing Racial Discrimination) must definitely be a North Carolina regional thing because its rampant not only in Education, but also in Business Practices, Employment, Housing, the Legal System, etc.,
What are North Carolina's Democratic Leaders doing about it?
Last time I checked doing nothing implies you agree.
Many Democrats such as myself thought the Obama Administration would be a decent, straight forward organization, leading by example.
Instead I along with millions of other American people witnessed acts of more Corruption and Political tricks.
It was very disappointing to say the least!
Yes I'm well aware Politics is a dirty game but silly me I still expect my Political Leaders to keep their word.
If a Political Candidate proclaims to be a "different kind of Democrat" (Not Corrupt, Transparent, etc.,), than once their elected that's exactly what they should be.
Nevertheless it didn't happen, which is why I've decided to just forget the titles (Democrats & Republicans) and affiliations to become an Independent Voter until death.
It won't be long before I make this final Political transition. (becoming an Independent NOT dying)
With the exception of Charlotte City Council Member Andy Dulin and former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, most Charlotte GOP leaders want NOTHING to do with inviting Minority citizens into the local Republican Party.
Thus the reason why most Black North Carolina residents are registered Democrats.
I don't know how many Black Charlotte Voters are currently registered as Republicans but its definitely not many.
Why?
Charlotte's GOP Leaders rarely if ever reach out to Black Voters in this community.
If the Republican Party thinks it will be able to win back Congress or win back North Carolina House/ Senate seats with White Voter support only, they are delusional.
Michael Steele may not be doing everything correct (no one does except God) but at least he represents a Black, Non-White face within the Republican Party.
At least he represents Diversity!
So...
Unless GOP Leaders in North Carolina and across the country want Democrats to remain in power, they'd better warmly open their doors to Minority Voters.
Welcome to the BLACK POLITICAL BUZZ Blog. (Established 2008)
My name is Laurel. (Author & Publisher)
I Blog with a focus on POLITICS, Business, and occasionally Entertainment.
FACTS ABOUT LAUREL:
Wife,
Mother of a U.S. Soldier,
Sister,
Woman of GOD,
Loyal Friend,
Creative,
Blood-related to a nationally known Charlotte Politician.
Black Female, Intelligent,
Married,
Love to Travel,
Credentialed by the RNC and DNC.
Political Blogger/ Commentator
Grassroots Activist,
PROFESSIONAL STATUS:
Credential Political Blogger/ Commentator,
Registered Independent Voter
Original Native of BROOKLYN, NY
Currently reside in CHARLOTTE, NC
I’m Nice but don’t get it twisted because my Mind is Sharp!
Since You’ve Chosen to Visit and Read the Contents of this Blog by Personal Choice, and of Your Own Free Will,
Please don’t ask me to Compensate you for Expressing individual commentary/ Posted Articles, which are protected by the First Amendment, citing Freedom of Speech & Freedom of Expression.
No Intentionally Malicious Slander, Libel or Defamation of Character content will be published and I will always Credit all Sources.
NOTE TO ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS, APPOINTED OFFICIALS & PUBLIC FIGURES:
Per the Landmark U.S. Supreme Court Case: 1964 case of New York Times v. Sullivan………
The Public has a Right to Criticize the People who Govern them, so the least Protection from Defamation is given to Public Officials. When officials are accused of something that involves their behavior in office, they have to prove all of the above elements of defamation and they must also prove that the defendant acted with “actual malice.” (For a definition of actual malice, see the “History of Defamation and the First Amendment, below.”)
People who aren’t Elected but who are Still Public Figures because they are influential or famous — like Actors, Actresses, Movie Stars, Singers & Entertainers, Journalists, TV Hosts, Bloggers, etc., — also have to Prove that Defamatory statements were made with Actual Malice, in most cases.
To the Associated Press and other Media Organizations:
When I use your Content Links., I’m also citing the Fair Use Doctrine (Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107) for further Copyright permission.
Posts and Links published on Black Political Buzz are not endorsed by Black Political Buzz Blog Author Laurel’s Employer, nor the Employers of other Black Political Buzz employees.
This includes Links, Posts and Comments posted on Black Political Buzz’s Facebook and Twitter account pages.
Comments, Links and Opinions of site visitors are Independently-Owned and not endorsed by Black Political Buzz employees, Blog Author Laurel or Laurel’s Employer.)
(No Personal Offense intended) Please know that Black Political Buzz is not responsible for nor do I endorse Requests for Donations from Third Parties on this Blog.
I will Only Endorse Requests for Donations made on behalf of BLACK POLITICAL BUZZ Blog for Business Purposes & Operating Expenses.
I will also Only Endorse Requests for Donations on behalf of Legitimate Politicians and Legitimate Political Candidates. PERIOD!!
If anyone else or another Organization wishes to post a link to Request Donations, I am NOT endorsing ANY of those Requests!
Unless I receive a personal Request to do so and I have Professionally Confirmed that the Third Party Organization or Charity is indeed a Legitimate Entity.
NOTE: Anyone who chooses to give to any Third Party Organization NOT Endorsed by BLACK POLITICAL BUZZ is doing so at his or her own risk.
BLACK POLITICAL BUZZ does NOT Discriminate against Politicians, Political Candidates, Organizations or Charities based on Race, Color, Nationality, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Religion, Faith, Disability, Political Affiliation, Creed, Education, Social Status, Age.
This disclaimer applies to ANY and All requests for Donations on this Blog. Thanks for understanding. Again No Personal Offense intended.
For Story Tips….Corrections…….. or Requests for Endorsements:
Please contact me via e-mail: blackpoliticalbuzz@gmail.com
or via my Facebook page: facebook.com/blackpoliticalbuzz
Thanks for stopping by
God Bless
Laurel @BLACK POLITICAL BUZZ
LINKS: POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE & INFORMATIONAL SITES
.jpg)
