Marcus Williams

The debate between the five Democratic candidates running to take on Elizabeth Dole in the general election is available as a podcast from Public Radio East. Those participating were Duskin Lassiter of Lexington, Marcus Williams of Lumberton, Jim Neal of Chapel Hill, Howard Staley of Moncure and Kay Hagan of Greensboro. Megen George, News Director for PRE moderated the debate. A very generous grant from Chestnut, Clemmons & Peacock, P.A. made the live broadcast possible.

I am the state coordinator for Progressive Democrats of America here in NC - for the time being at least - I am stepping down next month. This year, we pursued obtaining an endorsement for a US Senate candidate by Progressive Democrats of America (PDA). PDA rules say that all chapters inside a state have to vote to endorse, and then endorse one candidate by majority rule in each chapter, for Senate candidate endorsements. We have five chapters in North Carolina.

Unfortunately, two of those chapters have told me that they have restrictions on their ability to endorse anyone running for a federal office. So, as a friend of mine said, THE RULES RULE.... and there will be no endorsement from Progressive Democrats of America. The remaining three chapters (Beaufort, Buncombe, and Mecklenburg) will consider endorsements on the chapter levels.