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Campaign Crawlers
Carolina Girl
A huge embarrassment for Democrats in their convention state — or an opportunity?
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue — the woman who wanted to cancel congressional elections — has decided to cancel her own.
After signaling that she would seek a second term in 2012, Perdue shocked the political world Jan. 26 when she scuttled her re-election bid. The decision has implications far beyond the confines of Tar Heel politics.
Perdue, a Democrat and the state’s first female governor, ranked as one of the weakest incumbent governors this year. She rode President Obama’s coattails in 2008 to defeat former Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory by a whisker. Without the benefit of Obama’s turnout machine, Perdue would have lost.
Her chances were even dimmer in 2012, so she dropped out. Her official reason was to fight for public education, which Democrats claim was damaged by a budget approved by the Republican-controlled legislature last year.
“It is clear to me that my race for re-election will only further politicize the fight to adequately fund our schools,” Perdue said. “A re-election campaign in this already divisive environment will make it more difficult to find bipartisan solutions.”
It was a rationale that induced collective head scratching across the state. Even many Democrats doubted the effectiveness of surrendering the war to win it. But all of them are relieved that Perdue will no longer top the ballot with Obama. Perdue has consistently trailed McCrory, the presumed GOP gubernatorial nominee in 2012, in recent polls. Perdue’s departure means the gubernatorial race will be more competitive.
That’s good news for Democrats; plenty of bad news accompanies it. Perdue’s late announcement — coming three weeks before candidate filing begins for the primary in May — left North Carolina’s Democratic Party in disarray. There is no presumed successor to the governor’s office, prompting a dozen Democrats to voice interest in the job publicly. No doubt many more pondered the possibility privately.
The lieutenant governor’s post is seen as a stepping-stone to the governor’s office. But the current lieutenant governor, Walter Dalton, is a nonentity to many Democrats. Even more, his political history has liberals wary.
Before being elected lieutenant governor in 2008, Dalton was a moderate to conservative Democrat in the state Senate, elected from a rural district. In 2005, he co-sponsored a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions, a position that he tried to walk back this week. The sin of supporting traditional marriage might be too great for orthodox liberals.
Democrats had hoped that current Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, an African American, would jump into the race. Foxx had a lot going for him: He won a second term as mayor in November by a hefty margin, and is seen as an up-and-coming political rock star in the vein of Obama. His popularity in Charlotte, North Carolina’s most populous city, would have struck a blow to McCrory. But Foxx opted to fight another day and passed on a gubernatorial bid.
Enter Erskine Bowles. Yes, that Erskine Bowles, of Simpson-Bowles debt commission fame. Shortly after Perdue announced her retirement, pundits began speculating that Bowles might enter the race and immediately jump to the front of the pack.
Polling backed up that assertion. A survey by the Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling found Bowles and McCrory in a statistical dead heat. That was big news: Perdue trailed the former Charlotte mayor by double digits, and no other Democrat who would potentially run performs well in a hypothetical matchup.
But Democrats were dealt another blow Thursday when Bowles announced that he wouldn’t seek the governor’s office. If he had thrown his hat into the ring, his background, experience, and name recognition would have made him the most able challenger to McCrory.
That leaves two candidates who have announced so far: Dalton, and N.C. House member Bill Faison, who hails from the liberal bastion of Chapel Hill. Faison will make plenty of noise — he publicly called for Perdue to forego a second term, and caught grief from fellow Democrats for doing it — but he doesn’t have a prayer. It remains to be seen whether Democrats will coalesce around Dalton or opt for a more liberal alternative.
Liberals’ favorite pick would be U.S. Rep. Brad Miller, first elected to represent the state’s 13th Congressional District in 2002. Republicans all but drew Miller out of his seat this year, packing the district with more GOP voters. It’s doubtful whether Miller could be successful in a statewide campaign, though. His politics have made him one of the most liberal white Democrats in the South.
About the Author
David N. Bass is a journalist who writes from the Old North State. Follow him on Twitter.
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Kenny| 2.3.12 @ 7:00AM
Yes, and in addition to this Predue woman, U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC) also announced that he won’t run for re-election to Congress.
In my book, the chances of B. Hussein Obama winning the Tar Heel state in November are slim to none.
Fred Farkel| 2.3.12 @ 11:37AM
Shuler probably found being a 'blue dog' was as bad as being a Republican for the Democrat leadership.
PCP Smoker| 2.3.12 @ 7:49AM
Is suspect Indianans, Virginians, and Tar heels will be atoning for their votes in 2008. The swell is rising fast.
Fred Farkel| 2.4.12 @ 6:35PM
They call them Hoosiers.
Indy| 2.3.12 @ 8:01AM
The sad thing is McCory is a moderate R, too bad he doesn't have a primary challenger. If the GOP wins NC, I doubt it will be a strong governor who will stand up to the Federal Government.
Melvin| 2.3.12 @ 8:10AM
Being a resident of North Carolina, I have had to endure the most inept, corrupt, bunch of political yahoos that have ever graced the NC governorship.
Federal Felon former NC Gov. Mike Easley had the most inept, corrupt administration in the entire union, and yes more corrupt than the State of Louisiana before Bob Jindal drained that swamp.
Meg Scott Phips former NC Agriculture Sec. convicted and went to prison for corruption. Micheal Decker former Republican Legislature who switched parties to give the Dem. a slim majority also convicted of corruption and went to jail, then Jim Black former NC Speaker of the House, went to jail for corruption and this is just under one Democrat Governorship in which Bev. Perdue was a part of as Lt Gov.
Even before Bev. Perdue was sworn in as NC Gov. her campaign is under investigation for campaign cash shenanigans, using NC aircraft to fly to campaign rallies, and as of this week, Trawick Hamilton "Buzzy" Stubbs, Julia Leigh Sitton and Peter Anthony Reichard are charged with obstruction of justice in who were part of the Perdue campaign for Governor of NC.
Former Representative Bob Ethridge whose claim to fame was assaulting a student who was asking a question to be answered on a D.C. sidewalk has now thrown his hat into the Dem. ring for Gov.
After Ethridge was thrown out by NC voters in his district didn't need to worry about a job, Bev. Perdue invented a position for him which paid him handsomely with NC public dollars.
It is absolutely disgusting how Democrats carry on down here in NC. and now the citizens are going to be stuck or I should say shafted with Obama's bill for when he comes down here in the city of Charlotte for the Democrat Convention.
I wouldn't be half surprised that Barrack told Bev, to not run for reelection and if he was to win another four years, he would award Bev. a cabinet level position or somewhere very high in the Dept. of education for her loyalty, in which she so seriously misjudged
The Big E| 2.3.12 @ 9:02AM
As a fellow resident of the Tarheel State - Amen Brother!
And let's not forget that she also vetoed a budget which passed the legislature with support from bother - supposedly because an elementary school teacher asked her to.
Personally, I hated to see her drop out. Her presence on the ballot would have guaranteed a Republican sweep of this State from Governor to dogcatcher. Of course, if she follows the path of other recent Democrats elected to high State wide office recently, she soon may be biding her time in the Federal Pen.
The Big E| 2.3.12 @ 9:03AM
Obviously, that should have read, ". . . with support from both parties . . ."
albert constantine jr.| 2.3.12 @ 9:36AM
In Delaware we have a different way of getting rid of politicians elected to statewide office who embarass us-they become Vice President. I think the NC method is superior (and note to TAS Online headline editor: only one 'r' in embarass).
albert constantine jr.| 2.3.12 @ 10:45AM
How embarrassing: I see Merriam-Webster disagrees with my spelling, and concurs with the TAS editor. I withdraw my earler correction, but reserve the right to revise and extend my remarks.
emilio lizardo, phD| 2.3.12 @ 9:51AM
that is exactly what is happening- damage control pre-convention in Charlotte, sweeping all the local embarassments- like our atrocious governor -under the rug before the guests come
Indy| 2.3.12 @ 10:37AM
Oh wow, Mr. Who Are You Bobby is running
http://www.newsobserver.com/20.....ernor.html
I think you are correct, the orders came from the WH for Bev to get out, but they cannot be happy with Bobby in the race.
Mike Hawk| 2.3.12 @ 8:36AM
When it comes to gubernatorial incompetence, it is hard to beat the team of Sebelius, Granholm, Napolitano and now Perdue. The latter will soon join the incompetency challenged and clueless as administration hacks no doubt.
dennisl59| 2.4.12 @ 9:51AM
A true quartet of nincompoops.
Stormy| 2.3.12 @ 10:04AM
Brad Miller isn't very liberal. He's a socialist. He's stayed in office primarily because he had a gerrymandered district. Now that his district has been modified, he has to run on his record and policies. He would be an ideal candidate to run against McCrory. His candidacy for governor would match Barack Obama's. They both would be clearly socialists. Bary's nomination in a swing state where he has a fellow socialist on his ticket will not enhance his election chances.
Bill| 2.3.12 @ 11:03AM
Bev Perdue, Obama's cheerleader, opted out of her 2nd term. The Dems are in the "endangered" species list in the South. No Country for liberals!
Tex| 2.3.12 @ 11:26AM
I would say liability since she is going to jail and is a criminal. Well on second thought that may be an asset to Obama and that gang of Commie Criminals.
Louis Jenkins| 2.3.12 @ 11:35AM
Yuk, yuk, yuk, yuk. After saying that the next elections should be suspended to allow more time to work on business at hand, all I can say is "Yuk, yuk, yuk...." It's turning into an interesting local election to say the least.
TW in SC| 2.3.12 @ 12:02PM
"Dalton was a moderate to conservative Democrat in the state Senate,"
Isn't that a republican by today's standard? Been following this on the local jibber-jabber in bits and pieces. I find it delightful that they can't seem to find a candidate in their own party to take the bait.
Maybe NC is next to go red. That would be nice.
play nice| 2.3.12 @ 12:13PM
"...the fight to adequately fund our schools," Perdue said.
Oh please. There will never be enough money to satisfy them.
Pecos Pete| 2.3.12 @ 12:50PM
I'll nominate New Mexico as another state with LOTS of corrupt democrats. Bill Richardson for starters. Many of New Mexico's corrupt politicos now reside in federal prisons, and with any luck, King Bill will be joining them in the next couple of years.
Occam's Tool| 2.23.12 @ 5:14PM
I worked for Bill, indirectly. A more malevolent swine could not be imagined.
shipley130| 2.3.12 @ 1:20PM
Given that an Obama organization was involved, she probably actually lost the election. Count the voting ghosts.
SpiralArchitect| 2.3.12 @ 4:41PM
Never forget the dead, ACORN didn't.
ncatty| 2.3.12 @ 2:25PM
I can't believe she didn't wait until Hurricane season. A big hurricane followed by a helicopter tour has saved other NC democrat governors.
Just don't get it| 2.3.12 @ 4:04PM
One of the telling lines in this article about the demise of the nation: "liberal bastion Chapel Hill."
Folks, unless we win back our academic institutions that have circa 15,000 undergrads, 6,000 graduate students and 2,00o post-grads, 2,000 faulty, 4,900 staff, and countless contractors (essentially other employees) -- unless we win back these liberal assembly lines that (mis)shape our collective future, every little win is tenuous and frighteningly fragile.
Why have we ceded academia to the anti-freedom, pot smoking, slut walk, endless 60's selfish mushroomheads?
These "liberal bastions" turn out tomorrow's little Fidel/Che and Hugo Chavez wannabes.
Chapel Hill is supposed to be North Carolina, not Wellesley or Providence.
Chris| 2.5.12 @ 2:49PM
Yeah, and the Re-pubic-hair-ians will still mannage to BLOW IT!
Chris| 2.5.12 @ 2:52PM
Yeah, and the Re-pubic-hair-ians will still mannage to BLOW IT!
Paul Falduto| 2.5.12 @ 3:26PM
Bill Faison is not from Chapel Hill. He represents a rural district that is nominally Democrat but often supports Republicans. I know as I live there.
Niniane| 2.5.12 @ 10:00PM
I want to see a strong governor who stands up for this state for once. Pat McCrory would work for me. I am tired of the corruption is the highest offices in the state, and really hate the idea of having the Demoncrat national convention to crown Obama here. But I suppose the convention will do a lot to help local businesses no matter how much it ends up clogging Charlotte traffic.