president 2008

(cross-posted at dKos)

Public Policy Polling confirms what we already knew--North Carolina is in play presidentially. However, news from the Senate race here isn't quite as encouraging.

On the presidential side, McCain only leads Obama 45-41--just one point over the margin of error. Barr gets 5 percent. Note, this is a Democratic polling firm--but as with the last poll from NC, from a Republican polling firm, there's virtually no good news for McCain.

On the Senate side, however, Liddy Dole appears to be pulling away from Kay Hagan. She now leads 51 percent to 38 percent ... and the trends suggest Hagan's got some work to do.

Kos just reported some absolutely delightful news--Tel Opinion Research, a Republican polling firm, has released a new poll showing Obama only down four points, right at the margin of error. It's 45 percent for McCain to 41 percent for Obama. It's official, folks--our state is in play.

Edwards is open to the VP spot. What could he bring to the campaign? What would this mean for NC?

Wonder if the Obama folks were kidding about NC possibly being in play.
Hmm, maybe this email I just got from 'em offers a clue.

CHICAGO, IL-The Obama campaign announced today that Senator Obama will launch a two-week economic swing-the "Change that Works for You" tour-on Monday, June 9. Obama will travel across the country, talking to Americans about how the economy affects their everyday lives. He'll hold events with voters where they work and where they live, discussing the challenges we face and his plans to turn the economy around.

The tour will kick off on Monday with an economic speech in Raleigh, North Carolina.

hmm. indeed.

As happens occasionally with me, I will take off my hat as candidate and speak as an observer of the political process.

Though what I am about to say applies to the 8th Congressional District, it applies just as equally across North Carolina.

Here goes:

This election cycle has the most fervent, most passionate political activists in 40 years.

Perhaps it is mere coincidence that 40 years matches the time period oft-relied upon in the Bible to signify “a long time,” but I respectfully contend that America – including North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District – has returned from a 40-year hiatus in the political desert.

And this political passion is not all among Democrats.

The Libertarian Party maneuvered the labyrinthine laws intended to exclude third parties from the NC ballot, having qualified for the November ballot by collecting over 70,000 signatures statewide. This is no small task, and we ought to congratulate those party-builders who are giving their all to create something new.

The good news is that there are a lot of registered Republicans and Reagan Democrats who can't stand John McCain and who have a huge libertarian streak in them. We have more than our fair share here in the mountain west. And the better news is that the Libertarian Party has a brand name candidate running for President, former Rep. Bob Barr of Georgia.

If Barr can pull Ron Paul sized numbers (7.2%) here in November, it could tip North Carolina into Obama's column.

Bill Clinton spoke in Raleigh at the Hillary Clinton Campaign HQ at 11:00pm Monday May 5th 2008

My good friend Ann Cowperthwaite passed along this Letter to the Editor that her mother just wrote with the simple commentary:
"I am pretty proud of my mother over this one...."

Read the letter from white, female, 87 year old, Republican, senior citizen, June Peacock:

Cross-posted at dKos

I'm trying to get my head around Mike Easley's endorsement of Hillary Clinton. Quite frankly, I'm mystified.

As most of us know, Hillary on the top of the ticket effectively cedes most of the former Confederacy (except for Virginia and Florida) to McCain. Obama, on the other hand, has committed to fighting for North Carolina in November. I would think that this would be a no-brainer for the de facto leader of the North Carolina Democratic Party. He should have his finger on the pulse of this state.

[Sorry folks, no downticket endorsements yet....]

It's getting down to the final days before North Carolina's primary on May 6, so Matt Hill Comer of the Tar Heel gay news outlet Q-Notes is featuring NC LGBT leaders and their presidential race picks. The format features two endorsements per day, one from a Clinton supporter, one from an Obama supporter.

I was asked to contribute and the result probably isn't a surprise to anyone at this point. It's below the fold.