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Showing posts with label Runoff election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Runoff election. Show all posts

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Haley, Randall & Scott: GOP Targets Minority Voters










Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy






Haley & Scott Bring The GOP Badly-Needed Diversity



I’d like to offer congratulations to two victors from yesterday’s primaries — Republicans whose politics are quite different from mine but whose achievements are notable nevertheless.

Because they won Republican primaries in South Carolina, a heavily Republican state, they are in an excellent position to win in November, bringing diversity to a GOP that is badly in need of more politicians of color.

One of the winners is state Rep. Tim Scott, who beat Strom Thurmond’s son, Paul Thurmond, to become the GOP nominee for a Congressional seat. It’s remarkable that the state long dominated by Thurmond and his brand of politics — and where activists still vet Republican candidates to see if they understand the “cause” of the War of Yankee Aggression — has nominated a black man to Congress.

It’s another sign of the remarkable racial progress that the country has made in a relatively short period of time.

The other candidate deserving of congratulations is Nikki Haley, an Indian-American who had to overcome a vicious campaign of personal attacks in which an opponent called her a “raghead,” two men claimed to have had sexual affairs with her and some persisted in questioning her religious faith. If she wins in November, she would become the first woman governor of South Carolina.

If they are elected, Haley and Scott will undoubtedly support policies with which I strongly disagree, and I’ll have plenty to criticize in the future. For now, however, their victories merit plaudits.

Another black Republican won his primary yesterday, but he’ll receive no congratulations from me because he’s a nut case. The line between ultra-conservatism and idiocy is increasingly blurred, but it still exists.

Bill Randall, who won the GOP nomination for a North Carolina Congressional seat, crossed that line when he suggested that BP and the federal government worked together to blow up the Deepwater Horizon oil rig.



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Sources: AJC, McClatchy Newspapers, Miami Herald, MSNBC, Washington Post, Google Maps

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Nikki Haley & Black GOP Hopeful Tim Scott Win Big In S.C.





















Nikki Haley, Tim Scott Win In S.C. Republican Races


In a break from the state's racist legacy, South Carolina Republicans overwhelmingly chose Nikki Haley, an Indian-American woman, to run for governor and easily nominated Tim Scott, in line to become the former Confederate stronghold's first black GOP congressman in more than a century.

Six-term Republican Rep. Bob Inglis fell to prosecutor Trey Gowdy, making him the 5th House or Senate incumbent to stumble this year.

In North Carolina, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall won the Democratic nomination to challenge GOP Sen. Richard Burr in the fall. And Utah Republicans chose a GOP successor to vanquished Sen. Bob Bennett in a state that hasn't elected a Democratic senator in four decades. In Mississippi, voters chose Republican Bill Marcy to face Rep. Bennie Thompson.

Taken together, the victories by Haley and Scott — both favorites for the general election in November — offered clear signs of racial progress in the South.

Tuesday's runoffs and primaries played out across four states, the latest cluster of contests to determine matchups for the midterm congressional elections just over four months away. Already, 2010 is shaping up to be an anti-establishment year with angry voters casting ballots against candidates with ties to Washington and the political parties.

Perhaps no other contest illustrated that better than Haley's. A state legislator with the backing of tea party activists and Sarah Palin, she overtook the old-boy network.

"South Carolina just showed the rest of the country what we're made of," Haley said following her victory. "It's a new day in our state, and I am very blessed to be a part of it."

With her victory, Haley moved one step closer to becoming the first female governor in the conservative-leaning state. She also secured her place as a rising female star in the GOP, if not potential 2012 vice presidential candidate in the early primary state. She stands as the front-runner in the race against the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, state Sen. Vincent Sheheen. The disgraced GOP Gov. Mark Sanford is leaving the post because of term limits.

Haley, 38, brushed aside allegations of marital infidelity and an ethnic slur to come within a percentage point of winning the gubernatorial nod outright on June 8. With 98 percent of the precincts reporting in the runoff, she had 65 percent of the vote to 35 percent for Rep. Gresham Barrett, a four-term congressman who has had to answer for his 2008 vote for the unpopular Wall Street bailout.

In a fitting twist, Haley planned her victory party at the entrance to the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum.

Scott, 44, also a state lawmaker, beat Paul Thurmond, the son of the late U.S. Sen. and former segregationist Strom Thurmond in the runoff after securing the backing of Palin, the anti-tax Club for Growth and several Republican leaders in Washington. With 100 percent of precincts counted, he had 68 percent of the vote to 32 percent for Thurmond.

The GOP-leaning district stretches down the Carolina coast and includes Fort Sumter where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. If elected to the House, Scott would be the GOP's first black lawmaker since Oklahoma's J.C. Watts retired in 2003.

Scott will face Democrat Ben Frasier, who also is black, in November, and is strongly favored to win; the district, which is 72 percent white, has sent a Republican to Congress for three decades. Rep. Henry Brown is retiring.

Aside from Barrett, the bailout vote thwarted Inglis' quest for another term in the 4th Congressional District. Spartanburg prosecutor Gowdy forced Inglis into a runoff after making the race a referendum on the incumbent's bailout vote and casting him as not conservative enough for the district.

Elsewhere, Marshall beat former Army prosecutor Cal Cunningham, a blow to Democratic Party leaders in Washington who recruited him and spent more than $100,000 to boost his campaign. Despite holding statewide office for more than a decade, Marshall portrayed herself as an outsider while claiming she was an advocate for average citizens and fought against powerful industries.

In Utah, businessman Tim Bridgewater and attorney Mike Lee battled for the GOP Senate nomination. It's likely whoever wins will become the next Utah senator. A Democrat hasn't won a Senate race in Utah since 1970.

The victor will succeed Bennett, who lost his bid last month for a fourth term. Conservatives at the GOP state convention punished him for his support of the bailout, officially known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program.



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Sources: MSNBC, Google Maps

Elaine Marshall Elected By N.C.'s Scared Black Voters, Richard Burr Wins!

























Today Incumbent, Career Politician Elaine Marshall won North Carolina's run-off election for the Democrat ticket in the 2010 race for U.S. Senate.

Mrs. Marshall's victory officially allows her to run against Richard Burr (R-NC), North Carolina's current GOP U.S. Senator.

How did Elaine win?

Several thousand Black North Carolina Voters supported her at the polls.

Even though she skipped the NC NAACP Forum, North Carolina's Black "Leaders" still widely supported her.

Even though Mrs. Marshall's Public Service record has NEVER proved she's done a darn thing for North Carolina's Black community, the state's foolish Black Voters still handed her the ticket.

Oh sure she made a last minute feeble effort to show she "cares" about Black Voters by making a public appearance at a recent NAACP protest rally against Wake County's Re-Segregation plan (Publicity stunt!) but what has she actually done for North Carolina's Black resident during her 16 years in public office?

I'll tell you NOTHING!!

Elaine's former Democratic party opponent Kenneth Lewis (also African-American) more than likely cut a deal for himself with Mrs. Marshall by endorsing her, thereby delivering the Black Vote to her on a silver platter.

Such sell-out actions from North Carolina's Black community, especially Black Leaders helps to explain why the Black Vote in this region has NO value.

What a shame!

Now do you understand why I rarely support North Carolina's so-called Black "Leaders"?

They're nothing but Scared, Selfish Sell-outs!

Cal Cunningham was and still is the Strongest candidate in the race against Richard Burr.

I cast my vote for Mr. Cunningham this afternoon with no regrets.

So what if Cal Cunningham had Pres. Obama's support, he was still the BEST candidate!

This Fall I will be casting my ballot for Richard Burr in the general election.

Why?

Here's two reasons:

1) Career, Democrat Incumbent Politicians like Elaine Marshall have done enough harm to North Carolina's citizens with all their Corruption and Discriminatory practices.

2) As a concerned citizen there's no way I will just sit at home and NOT vote at all. To do so would be totally irresponsible.

(If you don't vote, than don't complain!)

I'll take my chances with Richard Burr.

To Courageous Black Voters like myself and Charlotte's Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon I say keep HOPE alive!

However to scared Black Voters who cast their ballots for Elaine Marshall, your going to be sorry.

Elaine Marshall wins the N.C. Democratic party primary run-off election.

What a sad day for this state's future because Elaine will surely continue doing absolutely NOTHING for the Black citizens who blindly and foolishly elected her.





Elaine Marshall Skips NC NAACP Forum, Cal Cunningham Didn't



Elaine Marshall skipped the NAACP forum event held earlier this year for North Carolina's U.S. Senate Candidates.

She claimed it was due to inclement weather and a scheduling conflict.

However even after the NAACP forum was re-scheduled (due to inclement weather) Elaine Marshall still did NOT show up!

Cal Cunningham and Kenneth Lewis showed up but Elaine Marshall did NOT.

Yet....She recently received the Endorsement from North Carolina's Black Leaders.

How stupid!

This explains why the Black Vote in North Carolina isn't taken seriously and is so often ignored by North Carolina's White Leaders.

Sell-outs!

North Carolina's Black citizens can't continue to blame White Leaders for holding them down when they are doing it to themselves.

Unfortunately North Carolina's racist White establishment and scared Black leaders have already decided to crown Elaine Marshall.

In my opinion Cal Cunningham is the Best choice for the U.S. Senate race that is if I were going to vote for NC Democrats in this fall's General Election.

However I'm not.

Check out a video of the televised NAACP forum event and articles below.







Elaine Marshall A "No Show" At The NC NAACP's Televised Forum On WRAL


At the NAACP's televised forum on WRAL Secretary of State Elaine Marshall was a No Show.

I don't want to come off as if Elaine doesn't support the African American and Minority community or that Elaine isn't sensitive to the issues that African Americans and Minorities face. But to not show up at one of the most important significant events of this years primary season isn't a sign of unwavering support to the NAACP, African Americans or the Minority community to me.

This would have been the perfect opportunity for Elaine to show her support and communicate to the African American Community and Minorities that if elected she work towards issues that we care about.

At this point we can assume that maybe she had something better to do. Or maybe she took this opportunity to just relax an take a break from the campaign trail.

Well this wasn't the right Event NOT TO show up for. Under any circumstances. You can't just right off voters or assume that you got things locked down. You have to fight for every vote.

Not showing up for this event is very telling. It tells me an many other people in the African American and Minority Community that maybe our vote isn't as important to her as we thought. Maybe she thinks she can win without us.

I happen to have a lot of respect for Elaine for her years of service to this State but in my opinion to not show up at a Signature NAACP event is a severe blow if not out right slap in the face of the NAACP, African Americans and the entire Minority Community.

Anthony D. Hall,

Fighting for Truth, Justice, Freedom and the American Way!






NAACP Sponsors Forum For U.S. Senate candidates


A forum for Senate candidates was held Saturday during the North Carolina NAACP’s Mid-Winter Conference in Raleigh.

State Sen. Cal Cunningham, of Lexington, Chapel Hill attorney Ken Lewis and Lumberton lawyer Marcus Williams attended the forum at the Hilton North Raleigh Midtown, 3415 Wake Forest Road. The Democrats are seeking to unseat Republican Sen. Richard Burr in November.

Libertarian candidate Michael Beitler of Oak Ridge, who will also be on the fall ballot, attended the event as well.

The candidates shared their views on education, jobs, health care and the economy.

The state NAACP and 90 partner organizations that make up the Historic Thousands on Jones Street Coalition sponsored the forum.



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Sources: Daily Kos, Hall Style's Blog, McClatchy Newspapers, My Blue NC.com, NAACP, NC State Board of Elections, Washington Post, WRAL, Google Maps

Monday, June 21, 2010

Cal Cunningham Endorsed By Patrick Cannon (A Wise NC Democrat)
























Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon Endorses Cal Cunningham



Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham began a final statewide swing in Charlotte this morning by picking up the endorsement of Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon.

Cannon and Cunningham spoke to reporters at Mert’s Heart & SoulMe restaurant uptown, where they were joined by about a dozen campaign volunteers.

Cannon urged Democrats to go to the polls Tuesday and for a candidate with “new energy (and) new spirit.”

Cunningham faces Incumbent Politician, N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall in a runoff for the right to challenge Republican Sen. Richard Burr.

Like Cannon, Cunningham said turnout is the key for each candidate.

“(Marshall) has a cadre of loyal supporters, we have built a cadre of loyal supporters,” he said. The question is, have we been able to build this fast enough to overcome her 14-year head start? I think so, but it’s going to be close.”

Cunningham is going on to appearances in Winston-Salem, Raleigh and Wilmington.



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Sources: Charmeck.org, McClatchy Newspapers, Mert's Hearth & Soul Restaurant, MyBlueNC.com, WRAL, Google Maps

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Cal Cunningham Wins Second Debate? I Think So Too















Second Debate Helped Cal Cunningham More


Tuesday night's debate between the Democratic candidates for their party's U.S. Senate nomination was a more civil affair than last week's debate, which was marked by sniping from the candidates and a short, messy format.

And just guessing here, but it seemed to me Cal Cunningham helped himself a little more than Elaine Marshall as they head into the June 22 runoff.

Early voting has already begun, of course, but expectations are that turnout will be, in technical terms, lame bordering on dismal.

Those who've watched the debates - sponsored last week by WRAL-TV and Tuesday by NBC 17 and the N.C. League of Women Voters - were likely looking for distinctions between the two candidates that would help make up their minds on whom to support or even whether to go to the polls.

I liked Tuesday's debate better.

For one thing, NBC 17 used just one moderator, Kim Gernardo, in an hour-long format rather than the two moderators in a half-hour format that WRAL-TV had.

If I were WRAL, I'd scrap the two-moderator arrangement and rethink the lightning-round, yes-or-no answers it wanted from candidates last week. Asking candidates if they'd vote for a tax increase, yes or no, seems to me to emphasize the worst about politics by failing to provide context of what might be in such a proposed tax increase.

Raise taxes on retired school teachers? Nobody would want to do that. Raise taxes to, say, keep Ft. Bragg open another 10 years? Maybe so. Or keep the nation's school teachers in the classroom? That also might bring a different result.

It seemed to me that NBC 17's and the League's format worked smoother and gave the candidates a bit more time to answer the questions, which generally focused on the same topics as last week: The oil spill, immigration, Social Security, 'don't ask, don't tell' and the record of incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr.

One place where Cunningham scored points, I thought, was his emphasis on his service in Iraq and his support of the surge in Afghanistan.

Cunningham pointed out that if elected, he would be the first Iraq veteran in the Senate. He would also be the first U.S. senator from North Carolina with military experience since Sen. Jesse Helms, who served in the Senate from 1972-2002, and who was in the Navy during World War II, though he stayed stateside.

Former U.S. Sen. Terry Sanford, who served from 1986-1992, was, I think, the last U.S. senator from North Carolina who served in combat. He was an Army paratrooper in World War II. Lauch Faircloth, the Republican who beat Sanford in the 1992 Senate race and served one term, also served in the Army in the mid-1950s.


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Sources: McClatchy Newspapers, WCNC, WRAL, Google Maps

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Cal Cunningham Raises $1.2 M, Elaine Marshall $775,003














Neither Cunningham, Marshall Flush With Cash But Cunningham Raises More


Democratic Senate candidate Cal Cunningham has raised $1.2 million, while his rival in the June 22 run-off, Elaine Marshall, has raised $775,003, according to the latest campaign finance reports.

Neither campaign was flush with cash, Rob Christensen reports.

Elaine Marshall had $193,172 on hand as of June 2, while Cunningham had $107,469 on hand, according to the Federal Election Commission. While Cunningham has been the leader in fundraising throughout the campaign, Marshall's first place finish in the May 4 primary appears to have given her a boost, enabling her to compete nearly evenly with Cunningham.

For the most current reporting period - from April 15 through June 2 - Cunningham raised $377,479 and Marshall raised $331,688.

Cunningham had earlier this year lent his campaign $86,000, and Marshall's family last year lent her campaign $71,500.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee contributed $79,980 to Cunningham's campaign.



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Sources: DSCC, McClatchy Newspaper, WRAL, Google Maps

Friday, June 11, 2010

Cunningham vs Marshall's Debate (Videos): Elaine Accepted Money From Lobbyists She Regulates























N.C. Democratic U.S. Senate Candidates Debate



N.C. Democratic U.S. Senate hopefuls Elaine Marshall and Cal Cunningham clashed Thursday night over Social Security and campaign donations, in a televised debate that reflected the increasingly negative tone of the runoff.

The two Senate candidates, appearing on a 28-minute debate on WRAL-TV, agreed on the major issues, from opposition to offshore drilling to the need for government to take more steps to stimulate jobs.

But with the June 22 runoff just 12 days away, they continued to pick away at each other in front of the TV cameras, just as their campaigns have been doing in postal mail, e-mail and phone calls.

Cunningham, a former state senator from Lexington, most often played the role of the aggressor.

He questioned whether Marshall wanted to raise the retirement age for Social Security above 67. And he questioned her taking contributions from lobbyists even though she regulated them as secretary of state.

"It could disproportionately hurt a whole of people," Cunningham said of raising the Social Security retirement age.

"That is not what I said," Marshall replied. "I never said I would support raising it. My mother is living on it."

After the debate, Marshall told reporters that her comment in an Associated Press interview this spring about raising the Social Security age was meant only as one of a number of options that Congress might consider to fix the program, not something she would support.

Marshall went after Cunningham's ties to Washington. He was recruited into the race by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and has received contributions and help from Democratic senators; he received a call of encouragement from President Barack Obama.

"You indicated you wanted to be a fresh voice in Washington, and yet you have received over $150,000 of Washington insider money," Marshall said. "How are you going to stand up to them?"

Voting his conscience

"I will exercise the independence that a United States senator representing North Carolina should exercise, the same sort of independence that I exercised in the state Senate voting my conscience, what my district wanted," Cunningham replied.

The Marshall campaign later said that Cunningham had received $108,000 from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and $40,000 from political committees associated with various Democratic senators.

When questioned after the debate, Marshall would not rule out accepting contributions from Democratic senators if she were the party's nominee.

"I would hope the other senators would be interested in me somewhat," she said.

Marshall was questioned about receiving $2,500 in donations from five North Carolina lobbyists even though she regulated lobbyists.

'A very small amount'

"It's a very small amount of money," Marshall said. "It is less than one-half of 1 percent [of her total contributions]. These are from good friends." She said she had taken on lobbyists in pushing through reforms to require them to disclose more information about how much they spend trying to influence legislation.

Cunningham said he saw no similarities between his taking money from Washington interests and Marshall's accepting donation from lobbyists.

"There is a real difference," Cunningham said. "I don't regulate anybody."

During the debate, the candidates were asked whether they could show independence from the Democratic leadership in Washington.

Marshall noted that she opposed Obama's troop surge in Afghanistan and that she was more likely to press for preserving state's rights in matters of regulation.

Cunningham said he would be more likely to challenge the Democratic majority on spending and on running up deficits.



More On The Debate


Meet The Candidates

Early voting has begun for the June 22 runoff. The winner takes on Republican incumbent Richard Burr in November.

The following stations will offer the debate at a later date and time:

* WSOC will air it Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
* WRAZ will air it Sunday at 3:30 p.m.


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Sources: McClatchy Newspaper, WRAL, Google Maps


Thursday, June 10, 2010

Cal Cunningham & Elaine Marshall Fighting For Run-Off Election Votes (Sharp Jabs!)



















Jabs Sharpen In N.C. Democratic Primary Run-Off Race For U.S. Senate Spot


Democratic Senate candidate Elaine Marshall was so perturbed that Cal Cunningham accused her of wanting to raise the retirement age for Social Security that she sicced her 90-year-old mother on him.

"The guy running against her should be ashamed of himself for saying things that just aren't so," Pauline Folk said in a recorded telephone message that recently went to Democratic households. "Anyone who knows Elaine will tell you that she's 100 percent committed to protecting Social Security."

The robocall is a sign of the new, more strident tone of the Democratic Senate primary heading into the final two weeks before the June 22 runoff.

For the past six months, the Democratic primary has often resembled a polite debating society. Since the May 4 primary narrowed the field from six candidates to two, the race has gotten so rough that party leaders worry that the eventual nominee could emerge bruised.

"It's incumbent upon the parties to become diligent in exercising self-restraint," said former state Democratic chairman Jerry Meek, a Charlotte lawyer. "Anything they say will be used by Richard Burr against the ultimate winner."

The new tone could mean sharper jabs when the two meet for televised debates tonight and Tuesday.

Much of the criticism has been below the radar, because neither candidate has the money to wage a full-scale television campaign.

For the most part, Cunningham, the 36-year-old Lexington lawyer and former state senator, has been the aggressor, seeking to plant doubts about Marshall through mailings and e-mails.

Marshall, the 64-year secretary of state, led the first primary 36 percent to 27 percent, putting Cunningham in the position of having to change the chemistry of the race.

"The tone of our campaign hasn't changed," said Thomas Mills, strategist for Marshall. "We are still focused on taking on Washington and taking on Wall Street and the insurance companies. The Cunningham campaign has decided to take the low road and use half-truths and misrepresentations to attack Secretary Marshall."

Cunningham's goal, Mills said, is to suppress the turnout of Marshall voters.

The Cunningham campaign argued that Marshall has been critical of Cunningham from the beginning, even questioning his right to enter the Democratic primary.

"This is an election, not a coronation," said Jared Leopold, Cunningham's spokesman.

"The runoff is about issues, and there are real differences in policy. Cal Cunningham will fight Republican efforts to raise the Social Security retirement age; Elaine Marshall will not."

It was almost inevitable that the tone of the campaign would turn, Meek said.

"In a run-off it's a zero sum, head to head and it typically becomes ugly in that situation," he said.



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Sources: McClatchy Newspapers, WCNC, WRAL, Google Maps

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Richard Burr Maintains Tight Lead Over Cunningham & Marshall (Polls)









































Richard Burr Leads Both Potential N.C. Democratic Rivals in U.S. Senate Race


First-Term Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr is running ahead of N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and former N.C. State Sen. Cal Cunningham in North Carolina's Senate race as the attention the two Democrats received during the first round of their primary fight has begun to fade, according to a Public Policy Polling survey conducted June 4-5.

Marshall had beat Cunningham, who is the choice of National Democratic leaders to be the party's candidate, but did not get the necessary 40 percent of the vote to avoid a June 22 runoff.

Richard Burr leads Marshall by 46 percent to 39 percent with 16 percent undecided and runs ahead of Cunningham 46 percent to 35 percent with 19 percent undecided. The margin of error is 3.9 points.

A Rasmussen Reports poll, conducted June 3, gives Burr a somewhat bigger advantage.

In that poll, Burr leads Marshall 50 percent to 36 percent with 6 percent preferring another candidate and 8 percent undecided, and he runs ahead of Cunningham 47 percent to 35 percent with 7 percent preferring someone else and 10 percent undecided. The margin of error is 3 points.

A week after the May 4 primary, when campaign ads were still fresh in voters' minds, the percentage of those in PPP's poll who did not know enough about the Democratic candidates to express an opinion about them was 41 percent for Marshall and 52 percent for Cunningham. In the PPP's poll, those numbers are back up to 62 percent for Marshall and 74 percent for Cunningham.

The last PPP poll, conducted May 8-10, showed Marshall and Cunningham tied. Since then, the third Democrat in the race, fundraiser and party activist Ken Lewis, endorsed Marshall. (Lewis had polled 16 percent in the primary compared to 36 percent for Marshall and 27 percent for Cunningham).

Burr's advantage appears to owe more to the weakness of the Democrats than his own popularity. Thirty-seven percent disapprove of his job performance compared to 38 percent who approve, with 28 percent undecided.

Asked to rate his performance on a scale of 1 to 9, with 9 being the highest, 43of voters percent graded him between 1 and 4, 34 percent rated him between 6 and 9, and 23 percent gave him a 5.





Richard Burr Extends Lead Over Cunningham & Marshall


Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr continues to hold a double-digit lead over his potential Democratic rivals, according to a new state-wide survey.

A new Rasmussen Reports survey shows Burr defeating Democrat Elaine Marshall by a 50-36 percent margin and defeating Democrat Cal Cunningham by a 47-35 percent margin, Rob Christensen reports.

Richard Burr has extended his lead from a month ago. Rasmussen found last month that Burr had a 48-40 lead over Marshall and a 50-37 percent lead over Cunningham.

The survey of 500 likely voters was conducted on June 3. The margin of error was 4.5 percentage points.

The survey also found that 59 percent of North Carolina voters favor repeal of the new health care law, while 34 percent would keep it.

The poll found that 56 percent favor state adoption of a tough immigration law like Arizona's.



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Sources: Facebook, McClatchy Newspapers, Politics Daily, Public Policy Polling, Rasmussen Reports, Google Maps

Monday, June 7, 2010

Elaine Marshall Represents North Carolina's Status Quo Politics

























On June 22, 2010 a state run-off election between N.C. Democratic Party Rivals Cal Cunningham and Elaine Marshall will take place.

Both candidates are running for U.S. Senate in hopes of defeating current seat holder Richard Burr (R).

Following the May Primary Elaine Marshall a Career Politician (N.C. Secretary of State), tried to stake her claim in this race by professing to be a person "with guts" who really cares about North Carolina voters.

I won't dispute she actually cares about North Carolina voters, my only concern is which N.C. residents is she referring to?

North Carolina's White citizens or ALL citizens because thus far she hasn't really done a darn thing for North Carolina's Black residents since her time in public office.

Just because well-known African-American N.C. Attorney Kenneth Lewis (sell-out) endorsed Marshall, doesn't mean she is the right fit for North Carolina.

In fact since Lewis did endorse Marshall I'd be a little wary of supporting her because he most likely did so as the result of a back room deal to benefit himself.

This also applies for other Black North Carolina "Elite" sell-out leaders supporting Elaine Marshall.

Unless North Carolina's Black so-called "Leaders" can publicly prove Marshall has an established public service record of helping North Carolina's Black community, they too deserve to be voted out of office!

Here's a bit of advice and something to consider before June 22 arrives:

If I had to bet my money on which N.C. Democratic Party candidate campaigning for U.S. Senate represents North Carolina Democrats' Status Quo most, it would be Elaine Marshall NOT Cal Cunningham.

Elaine has close ties (guilt by association) to former N.C. Governor Mike Easley and current Governor Bev Perdue. Cal Cunningham does NOT.

Elaine is trying too hard to distance herself from President Barack Obama, also a Democrat.

Let's see Elaine Marshall can't prove she's EVER done anything much to help North Carolina's Black citizens yet she's constantly berating President Obama a Black man.

Hmmm, I'd say something is definitely wrong with this picture.

Does she oppose Obama's policies or his race?

Now I could be wrong but usually if it smells like Racism and looks like Racism, its probably Racism!

Elaine also tried to dissuade Cal Cunningham from proceeding with the Run-Off Election.

Is it because she's afraid?

Afraid of what?

Afraid of Cal exposing her Status Quo nature and her Status Quo N.C. Public Service record.

People its time we woke up in the Tarheel state and stop allowing N.C. Democrats, especially Career Politicians railroad us.

As I stated previously I plan to cast my ballot for Richard Burr in the General Election this Fall, however during the Run-Off I'm voting for Cal Cunningham.

Why?

I'm tired of North Carolina's Status Quo Politicians ruining the Quality of Life for ALL North Carolina residents, especially Black residents.

Blacks in this state will be better off if either Richard Burr or Cal Cunningham wins.

But we will most certainly regret it if Elaine Marshall wins.

Perhaps this explains why North Carolina Newspapers (Newsobserver & the Charlotte Observer) wants Marshall to be victorious.

The Editors of both publications appear to be on a laser-focused mission to help keep Black citizens in Slave-like conditions in these areas: Affordable Housing, Education, the Criminal Justice system, Taxation, Jobs, Health Care, Notary Public Licenses, Voting Rights, etc.,

Elaine Marshall would be just the individual to continue carrying out North Carolina's historically Racist/Slavery agenda.

Check out the videos and articles below to learn why North Carolina citizens need to vote responsibly this year versus listening to the local biased media.

Hasn't North Carolina seen enough Corruption and Discrimination?

LET'S KEEP STATUS QUO POLITICIANS OUT OF PUBLIC OFFICE.









N.C. Democratic Candidates Gear Up for U.S. Senate Run-Off


North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and former state Sen. Cal Cunningham were gearing up Wednesday for a runoff election to decide who will challenge Republican Richard Burr this fall for his seat in the U.S. Senate.

In Tuesday's Democratic primary, neither candidate drew the 40 percent of votes necessary to avoid a runoff. Marshall led the six-candidate field with 36 percent, while Cunningham came in second with 27 percent.

"The momentum belongs to us, and we're going to capitalize on it," Marshall said Wednesday. "I'll put my energy up against his any day of the week."

"We feel very good about where we are in this campaign," Cunningham said. "The closer we got to election day, more people were responding to our message about jobs and the economy."

The two candidates have 49 more days to campaign before the runoff election on June 22.

Cunningham was quickly back on the campaign trail Wednesday, speaking to small-business owners about how he could help them in Washington, D.C.

"Main Street, North Carolina, needs an advocate in Washington, a U.S. senator who stands on their side," he said.

Marshall maintains that a runoff is unnecessary and potentially divisive, but Cunningham said that it simply gives the candidates more time to make their case to voters.

"This runoff is not necessarily in the best interests of party unity. It's not necessarily in the best interests of the future of North Carolina," Marshall said. "It's time that people put their personal ambitions aside and looked at those issues also."

"Between President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, we went long in those (2008) primaries. That was good for our party," Cunningham said. "This is going to give us an opportunity to continue to build on the coalition we've already put together."

Durham lawyer Ken Lewis, who finished third in the primary with 17 percent of the votes, said he has no immediate plans to endorse either Marshall or Cunningham.

Republicans will have two runoffs in congressional races. William Randall and Bernie Reeves will vie for the nomination in the 13th Congressional District, where the winner will face Congressman Brad Miller, and Tim D'Annunzio and Harold Johnson will compete for the right to face 8th District Congressman Larry Kissell.
Poll favors Marshall

Marshall has run a grassroots campaign on a shoestring budget based largely on her 14 years experience in state government, while Cunningham was hand-picked by the national Democratic Party to go up against Burr and has enjoyed steady funding from the party.

"The primary results show I've got the grit, the energy and the connection to the public to win a race against someone they've anointed," Marshall said.

Left-leaning Public Policy Polling said Tuesday night that Marshall begins as the favorite in the runoff. Voters surveyed in a pre-election poll favored Marshall 43 to 32 percent over Cunningham.

PPP's analysis says that Cunningham will have to "significantly improve his appeal to black voters." Slightly more than half of the supporters of former candidates Ken Lewis and Marcus Williams, who are black, indicated that they would support Marshall in a runoff, according to the PPP poll.

Cunningham said he overcame a large deficit in the polls to pull within single digits of Marshall.

"We came from a 37-point deficit to put this into a runoff," he said. "We like where we are, and we're confident of success on June 22."

Both candidates pledged to stay focused on the issues and their Republican opponent, rather than personal attacks, in the campaigning to come.

"We continue to take on Richard Burr, hold him accountable for the bad decisions he's made in Washington. We continue to highlight the voices of North Carolinians who are struggling through this difficult time to make ends meet," Cunningham said. "That's our strategy, and we're going to continue to execute it."

"The strategy's going to be to work harder, work longer, work smarter," Marshall said, "keeping talking about the needs of North Carolina and the long-range future of this state and this country."

Burr, who won his primary with 80 percent of the vote, said he would leave it up to North Carolina voters to judge the job he has done in the past six years. He said he has tried to be a rational, conservative voice in the Senate.

"I've got the same frustrations with the direction of the country, but I also want to be part of the solution and change the direction that we go and, more importantly, bring the brakes to this outrageous spending going on," he said.

Burr on Wednesday committed to debate the eventual Democratic nominee in June and again in October, and he challenged the runoff winner to take part in two more debates before the November general election.

Marshall said that her decades of service in state government best qualify her to represent North Carolina, while Cunningham pointed to his military service and attitude.

"Clearly, I have experience. I have experience in taking on Wall Street, special interests," Marshall said. "That gives me a proven track record."

"I'd be the first Iraq war veteran elected to the United States Senate," Cunningham said. "But I also bring an energy, a commitment and an optimism about the future of our state that is what this state needs to make sure its voice is being heard in these debates in Washington."





50 Examples Of North Carolina Democrats' Corruption & Discrimination (Shameful!)



Here's 50 examples of North Carolina Democrats' Extreme Corruption and Discrimination.

This is shameful considering the fact that so many of North Carolina Democrats are African-Americans.

Isn't it time we wake up people?

Seems New York isn't the only state with serious Corruption problems, North Carolina has its share too. Its also quite possible Obama's Administration has ordered the Mainstream Media NOT to report this stuff probably as a result of some sort of deal he made with either Gov. Bev Perdue or Senator Kay Hagan.


1) Crooked Campaign Finance deals, possible stolen Elections (ACORN helped NC in 2008), Unnecessary Gerrymandered Districts (12th), pushing or forcing Straight Ticket Voting from Minority Low Income citizens who are treated the worse in North Carolina (Democrats),

2) Unnecessary Early releases from Federal Prison (Jim Black),

3) Not spending NC Education Lottery money on Education,

4) Extreme Racial Discrimination within the NC Job Market, Criminal Justice System and Education System,

5) Very Strong Allegations of Insider Trading by NC Senators,

6) Crooked Health Care deals with NC Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS raised its rates again this year),

7) Not reporting Campaign Flights to the State Board of Elections,

8) NC Politicians involved in Serious Conflict of Interest as it relates to Employment and Lobbying,

9) No-Bid Medicaid Contracts to Corrupt companies whose products may cause Deaths for Low Income, Senior Citizen Diabetes patients,

10) Spending Federal Stimulus Money on Political Favor projects (Cocaine research on Monkeys) instead of Real Jobs,

11) Re-Segregating Public Schools (Civil Rights Violation),

12) Huge Achievement Gaps & Disparities in Education between White and Minority Students (Civil Rights Violations),

13) Using Black Foster Care children to secure more Federal Revenue but not using the funding on those children,

14) DSS Funding Embezzlement by NC DSS employees (more than $100,000.),

15) Food Stamp Fraud by Charlotte DSS employees,

16) ABC Board bribes,

17) Serious Alcohol Law Violations,

18) Serious Misuse of Authority,

19) Illegally Firing Qualified, High Performing Teachers from Low Income Schools to save jobs for Teachers in Wealthy White Schools,

20) Medicaid Fraud by State Officials ($300 Million intentional Overbilling from NC Doctors & Hospitals),

21) DMV employees conducting Illegal Wiretapping and selling Driver Licenses,

22) Appointing Federal Judgeships in exchange for other favors,

23) Sheriff Deputies scrubbing Criminal Records for Sexual Favors,

24) Continuing to hire outside Contractors (Chicago based)even after Gov. Perdue promised to give NC Contractors first priority,

25) Creating Jobs for Politicians' spouses during Hiring Freezes after the vacancy is advertised for just one day,

26) Only collecting Taxes from the Middle Class & Low Income citizens, while allowing North Carolina's Wealthy White citizens and Businesses to forgo paying their taxes,

27) Only raising property taxes in NC Communities heavily populated by Black and Hispanic citizens,

28) Allowing Violent Federal Ex-Convicts on Probation to adopt Black Foster Care Children, (Royce Mitchell & Tiffany Wright)

29) Trying to cover up deaths of Black Foster Care Children in order to save jobs of Black NC DSS Fraternity/ Sorority friends of NC Politicians,

30) Firing White DSS Social Workers to save jobs of Black Social Workers who are friends of NC Politicians, (Reverse Discrimination is still illegal)

31) Not awarding NC State Contracts to Minorities,

32) Continuing to award State Contracts to Contractors with records of Shoddy Products, Terrible Service and many Consumer complaints,

33) Luring Companies to North Carolina by promising them they can pay employees very low salaries and don't have to pay Taxes,

34) Cooking the numbers of North Carolina's Public School Drop Out rates especially among Minority Students who are currently receiving an Inferior Education,

35) Securing millions in Federal money for Homelessness Prevention but using it for other purposes and letting Homeless citizens freeze to death on the streets,

36) North Carolina Law Enforcement Officials refusing to provide the same protection for Minority citizens (Greensboro, N.C. A & T Students) as they do for White citizens and not sending out Amber Alerts for missing Black Children right away versus immediate responses for missing White Children,

37) Refusing to collect Child Support for Black Children (Charlotte) while doing so wonderfully for White Children,

38) Using Credit History as an excuse NOT to hire Black Job Applicants but doing the exact opposite for White Job Applicants,

39) Allowing serious Housing Discrimination to take place and dismissing numerous Complaints about Violations from Minority citizens on this issue,

40) Allowing Developers to build Shoddy homes for Minority citizens & Minority Homebuyers (Charlotte),

41) Intentionally sending raggedy City Buses into Minority communities but sending out nice, well-maintained buses to White communities while ALL riders pay the same fares (Charlotte). In Black communities the buses are often late or fail to even arrive thus hindering many Low Income people from getting to work on time.

Also securing Federal DOT & Mass Public Transportation Funding but only investing it in North Carolina's Wealthy White or Pre-Dominantly White communities,

42) Allowing North Carolina City Councils to make risky investments in the Stock Market using Taxpayer money,

43) Using Federal Neighborhood Revitalization Funds only in NC's White Communities and intentionally leaving Black Communities out of City Planning (except for West Charlotte where many Low Income Straight Ticket Voters live),

44) Terrible Age Discrimination used in NC Hiring & Firing Practices,

45) Giving Black Youth Life Sentences for committing Non-Homicidal, Non-Drug Related offenses while giving White Offenders much less jail sentences for committing worse crimes,

46) North Carolina Media organizations refusing to publish and report FACTS instead citizens keep getting Partisan Propaganda from the state's Corrupt Democrat party,

47) Allowing Bank of America to Foreclose on thousands of homes owned by Minority citizens. How? BOFA officials intentionally ignore or lose Loan Modification Applications,

48) Giving North Carolina's Black Colleges much less money than pre-dominantly White student populated Colleges & providing Financial Aid to fewer Black College Students than White College Students,

49) Refusing to provide Mental Health Counseling for Low Income Minority citizens. I'm NOT speaking of locking up people. Instead I'm referring to providing Mental Health Counseling to stop Child Abuse, Drug addictions, Alcoholism, etc.,

In North Carolina White citizens often receive State-Funded Mental Health Counseling, while Black citizens are sentenced to Prison.

50) Encouraging Low Income Women to have Abortions or to have more babies out of wedlock, in order to help secure more Federal Funding from the U.S. Dept of HHS.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

As you can see North Carolina Politicians within the Democrat Party can do whatever they please without any real consequences, unless your Black.

For Black North Carolina Democrats they may get a pass, they might not.

It depends upon how low their willing to go as it relates to selling out the North Carolina Black Community to help White constituents.

I find it strange the Federal Gov't is suddenly no longer getting involved while all of this obvious Corruption is being committed by NC Politicians and State Officials (all Democrats).

Under President Bush's Administration NC Corruption was being cleaned up, however strangely since Pres. Obama has been in Office, the FBI Investigations have slowed considerably and NO one else is being prosecuted regardless of what they do (except Low Income Black citizens).

Perhaps its because he has cut a deal with North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue to look the other way if she and other Influential Dems will endorse his next campaign.

Maybe this explains why so many North Carolina Democrat and Independent Voters will be voting for Republicans come November 2010 and in 2012.





Kenneth Lewis Rubber Stamps Elaine Marshall, She Doesn't Deserve It (Deals)



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!

"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



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Sources: McClatchy Newspapers, My BlueNC.com, WRAL, Youtube, Google Maps

Monday, May 24, 2010

Charlotte Observer Tries To Sway N.C. Elections, Again (Cunningham vs Marshall Run-Off)
























Charlotte Observer Tries To Sway N.C. Citizens From Voting During The Cunningham-Marshall Run-Off Election On June 22



On June 22, a runoff election between Democrats Cal Cunningham and rival Elaine Marshall for a spot on the November ballot for U.S. senator - and three congressional run-offs plus one state Senate runoff - will cost the state an estimated $5 million.

The cost to Charlotte-Mecklenburg County's taxpayers will be $350,000. Maybe, finally, the horrendous budget crunch facing the state and the counties will bring a long-needed end to the state's archaic runoff election system.

It's a relic of the old one-party days, when the Democrats so dominated state politics that at least a run-off gave voters something akin to a two-person election.

Those days are long gone in North Carolina, swept out in the 1970s. At least the state in 1989 dropped the percentage of the votes a candidate needs to escape a runoff from 50 to 40 percent.

Even so, in the last statewide run-off, in 2008, fewer than 2 percent of voters showed up to choose between two Democratic candidates for state labor commissioner.

In Mecklenburg, turnout was .58 percent - for a cost to local taxpayers of $121 per vote. Statewide, elections officials estimated the 63,662 votes cost $55 each.

There must be a better way. Not only can better uses be found for that money, it's nuts to have such a minuscule proportion of the voters having such disproportionate sway.

One option might be to lower, again, the percentage of votes needed to avoid a run-off - perhaps to 35 percent? Another idea with merit is to use what's called "instant runoff voting." Voters choose a No. 1 and No. 2 choice.

If no candidate wins 40 percent, then the top two advance to the "instant run-off." Officials review ballots for candidates who didn't make the cut, and those voters' second choice votes are allocated.

Whoever ends up with the most votes wins. Instant run-offs are already used in England, Ireland, San Francisco and Minneapolis, among other places.

Some kinks would have to be worked out and questions answered. Software could be a problem in the approximately 20 N.C. counties, like Mecklenburg, that don't use optical scanners with paper ballots.

Would the need for new software cost counties more than the hundreds of thousands it costs for the runoff elections? Could voters figure out the more complicated system?

In 2006 the state authorized a couple of experiments in instant runoff voting in Hendersonville and Cary. The Henderson County elections director says it's worked well in mock elections but hasn't yet been used in a real one. Cary tried it in a 2007 election but hasn't tried it again, as it required both machine and hand-counting.

No balloting method is going to be perfect, of course. A winner-takes-all method might allow a fringe candidate who can scrape together a clump of voters to win out if a number of other, saner candidates split the rest of the vote. Instant runoffs raise questions of cost and confusion. But come June 22, N.C. voters who bother to go to the polls at all (and we predict few will) will be costing us all millions of dollars. We vote for a change.









Elaine Marshall Tries To Talk (Force) Cunningham Out Of Run-Off (Dirty Politics)


N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall said Wednesday that she still hopes that her rival Cal Cunningham reconsiders his decision to call for a run-off in the Democratic Senate primary.

“I hope he will put the best interests of the party and the best interests of the people front and foremost rather than this his own personal ambitions,'' Marshall said in an interview at campaign headquarters in Raleigh.

Marshall said she thought there was some pressure on Cunningham to rethink his decision to call for a run-off which would be held on June 22nd, Rob Christensen reports.

"There are people in the state who have not been happy about Washington interference and the success I've had at the ballot box yesterday has only increased that," she said.

She was referring to Cunningham's support from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Marshall led the primary with 36 percent of the vote to Cunningham's 27 percent, short of the 40 percent needed to clinch the nomination.

Marshall suggested the run-off might get a little rougher.

"Once you get down to a two-person race it some times becomes a little more hard-edged," she said. "But we are going to be very positive. We are going to show distinctions. We are going to campaign for the best interests of North Carolina."

Marshall spent part of the day in her campaign headquarters, calling supporters and donors.



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Sources: Charlotte Observer, F.E.C., McClatchy Newspapers, N.C. General Assembly, WRAL, Google Maps