Dellinger earns Observer endorsement
The Charlotte Observer announced its recommendations for the Lieutenant Governor nominations. It followed a clear pattern - remarking on the complete lack of qualifications on the Republican side of the ledger, but noting that any of the four Democrats would be a fine choice.
But of the four, the Observer, North Carolina's largest daily newspaper, recommended Hampton Dellinger as the best Democratic nominee, and may well have given Hampton a new nickname: the aggressive progressive.
The Observer noted the qualifications of all four Democrats, citing Sen. Dalton's years of experience in the Senate (but noting the troubling obeisance to the billboard industry), Mayor Smathers' commendable leadership during floods that destroyed much of Canton, and Dan Besse's lifetime of work for the environment. But what the paper had to say about Hampton is worth reading in its entirety:
But our choice is Durham lawyer Hampton Dellinger, an aggressive, ambitious advocate for change. A former deputy attorney general and legal counsel to Gov. Mike Easley, he describes himself as an absolutist in favor of open government practices and wants to ban members of the N.C. Board of Transportation from engaging in fund raising for politicians. His ideas are bold but rooted in the state's traditions -- such as keeping university tuition low and emphasizing academics over athletics. His advocacy for change following a long period of timidity constitute the kind of leadership a growing North Carolina needs. We recommend Hampton Dellinger.
I do too. And they nailed exactly why North Carolina should heed their advice. Change following a long period of timidity. Yep.
I've heard people who are taken aback at times by how eager and forceful a personality Hampton has. Aggressively progressive. Imagine that. Imagine a high-ranking state official who uses that kind of energy, that kind of forceful purpose, to promote and steer a progressive agenda.
There was a young lieutenant governor of North Carolina in the 1970s who was often told he was too big for his britches. That guy changed North Carolina for the better, pursuing a modern, enlightened agenda through the eighties and nineties. North Carolinians elected him to the governorship four times. I mention Jim Hunt not to reignite the discussion of running for governor, but to show that when the right policies are advanced with passion and thoughtful purpose, North Carolinians will listen and vote for them. Hampton is ready to run on, and win with, progressive ideas. The GOP won't know what hit it
What a great endorsement for Hampton.
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posted from my blackberry on a sunday
Please forgive any typos or half-thought out sentences. The blackberry is responsible for the fomer, lack of caffeine for the latter.
Have fun at the blogger bash. Wish I could be there, but I'm doing GOTV today. Go dems!
"Hampton Dellinger will be a great Lieutenant Governor." - Al Gore.
That's why I'll probably vote for Dellinger
Dellinger appeared in the door of the church where the Orange County Dems were having their annual convention a couple of years ago, and stood there smiling until the chair recognized him as yet another person of note.
Dellinger took that as his cue to run up to the podium, grab the mike and greet and thank us for about 5 minutes. My jaw dropped at the audacity of this youngster going on like that uninvited. But you know what? That sort of ballsy behavior and, yes, aggressiveness, are probably what's needed to be heard above the fray, become known and get ahead.
And we sure need people on our side who will get ahead!
-- ge
Besta é tu se você não viver nesse mundo
http://george.entenman.name
Congratulations!
That's a wonderful endorsement to receive - from what my mom still calls "the state's newspapers". Congratulations, Hamp.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors
The really exciting part for me:
The whole graph (in Dr.Frank's post above) about Hampton was one of the most succinct, effective endorsement's I've read this year. The prospect of having a person like Hampton's in the LG's office is truly exciting. This is the year to elect the energetic, progressive folks that we really want in office. Not to settle for what we think is all we can get.
Hmmm.
A long period of timidity almost sounds like a slap about Beverly Perdue, doesn't it?
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors
i think it's refering to
top governmental leaders in North Carolina across the board. There hasn't much visionary thinking going on--at least not that the public knows about.. I like Mike and Bev and think they have done a decent job, but I think Hampton is made from entirely different cloth and will bring a more aggressive leadership style to Raleigh. With the daunting challenges we face (mental health crisis, environmental degradation, flagging economy and under-performing schools, to name just a few) I think we need a strong advocate in the LG's office. And when i think of 'ambitiousness', I think about Hampton's ambitions to make this state better and make fundamental changes that have been a long time coming. It's not about ambitions to seek higher offices, it's about pushing an ambitious agenda. my 2 cents.
I'll said it to someone yesterday (Graig?)
and I'll say it again here. The Governor's race has been everything that's wrong with politics all rolled up into a little ball for us.
The Lt. Governor's race has been just the opposite. It has been interesting, fiery, inspiring, and damn fun to watch. I have learned a lot, and absolutely meant it when I said that the 3 men we know best from that race here at Blue NC are the newly emerging leaders of the NC Democratic Party. No matter what happens in the next 8 days, it behooves us all to remember that. I believe that Besse, Dellinger, and Smathers have shown the kind of leadership we want at the top of our party, and at the top of our state. Damn I want to see all of them in that position, for different reasons.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors
well said.
It surely has been one of the better races. And what's really cool is that those 3 candidates you mentioned will--no matter what happens--all have bright futures in North Carolina Politics. Whether it be in other state-wide offices, the legislature, local government or on important commissions and advisory boards. They are all assets to our state, and this campaign has certainly shown that.
Hilarious
The Charlotte Observer lambasting their neighbor, Walter Dalton's, TV ad
Meanwhile, The N & O says Hampton's 30 second add is accurate and sufficiently qualified:
I glad news outlets are not letting Dalton get of scott free for misrepresenting his accomplishments.