My Vote for Senator Is...

Hint, it ain't Elizabeth Dole

I did as much reading as I could from all candidates, eventually narrowing my choices to Hagan and Neal. This wasn't out of disrespect to some of the alternatives, but politics is a $$$ game and their campaigns just weren't generating the revenue to stay serious.

Both offer strong candidacies from very different perspectives. Hagan is the reluctant soldier of the NCDP and the DSCC. I would be very interested to find out what her real reasons for not running were origially, but I suspect the point is moot. She is very much a product of the NC Democratic machine and her voting record reflects that. By itself, that's not necessarily a negative, but for me, in 2008, it is.

Jim Neal represents the outsiders perspective, which is a hard road to travel in politics, especially at the national level. Personally, if he doesn't win I hope this doesn't keep him out of the political scene. I think he brings a fresh, progressive voice to NC, and more of those are sorely needed. While I disagree with him on Iraq a little, I disagree with Kay Hagan even more. The answer to Iraq isn't more hearings, its action. On many of the other policy areas, I didn't see any substantive differences. Hagan's energy plan seemed like poorly planned pandering to me, but I disagree with her on the federal tax holiday. Tax breaks in this area will encourage consumption, which increases demand, which further increases prices. Does no one in Congress understand basic economics?

In the end, I'm supporting the outsider in hopes of continuing a motif of change in Washington. We need some fresh faces in Washington, and that doesn't mean just transferring familiar faces from Raleigh to DC.

If Kay wins this primary, which is certainly possible, she will get my support in November. But my vote on May 6th will be for Jim Neal.

Lt. Gov and Gov to come soon :)