Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/26748
A Rematch for NC Governor? by JOHN HOOD In 2008, both Democrats and Republicans held competitive primaries for governor. The winners, Lt. Gov Bev Perdue and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory respectively, went on to compete in one of the closest gubernatorial elections in North Carolina history. Now, with the 2012 election season approaching, most political observers have been expecting a rematch. But pollsters have been asking likely voters what they think — and the results are interesting, to say the least. According to the latest statewide survey from Public Policy Polling, a Democratic firm, a rematch wouldn’t be good for Democrats. McCrory would best Gov. Perdue by a 12 point margin — and that’s assuming the 15 percent of voters currently undecided would break evenly between the two candidates. In the PPP survey, Perdue’s approval ratings are up- side down: 30 percent pro, 48 percent con, 22 percent not sure. McCrory’s favorability ratings are rightside up: 31 percent pro, 22 percent con, 47 percent not sure. With their incumbent governor in danger and the North Carolina legislature controlled by Republicans for the first time in more than a century, it stands to reason that Democrats might want to select a different nominee in 2012 to ensure continued influence in Raleigh. The conservative Civitas Institute, which commissions monthly statewide polls, asked Democratic and unaffiliated respondents in its January survey whether they would prefer Perdue or a different Democrat in a gubernatorial primary. About a third said they would support or lean towards Perdue. A similar percentage said they would support or lean to- wards someone else. Gov. Bev Perdue. Who might that be? I’ve heard the talk around Raleigh of a potential primary chal- lenge, as have many others, but it’s been hard to imagine how such a scenario might unfold. Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, former NC House Speaker Dan Blue, State Treasurer Janet Cowell, and former legislator and Senate candidate Cal Cunningham are among the fashions Democratic activists have been trying on. Still, I’m not sure it’s realistic to expect any of them to take after Perdue head-on. The last time there was a serious primary challenge to a governor was in 1980, when former Gov. Bob Scott ran against Gov. Jim Hunt. He got creamed. Given Perdue’s long career in Democratic politics, a primary challenge would be a risky proposition. A more likely scenario would be for the governor to decide on her own not to seek a second term. People who choose careers in politics necessarily have a lot of self-confi- dence. Their egos make it hard not to keep running for office. But sometimes, when the prospects for reelection appear dim, they’d rather retire voluntarily than involuntarily. On the other side, PPP decided to test the widespread assumption that McCrory will be the inevitable GOP nomi- nee. During the 2008 primary, conservative challengers criticized some of McCrory’s policies as mayor, such as supporting a tax increase for the Queen City’s rail-transit system. He won anyway, without a runoff. Would a similar challenge be more successful in 2012, given the advent of Tea Party politics? In the PPP survey, 53 percent of likely GOP primary voters said McCrory’s views were “about right,” vs. 14 per- cent who said they were too liberal and seven percent who said they were too conservative. But when asked directly whether they would vote for McCrory or “a more conserva- tive challenger,” 43 percent went for the unnamed conser- vative, vs. 29 percent for McCrory. Republican Pat McCrory. The results show some room to maneuver for a potential primary challenger to McCrory. But as is the case on the Democratic side, I’m having trouble coming up with a realistic scenario for such a challenge. I don’t think any of the mayor’s 2008 opponents are interested in running again. Other rising stars in the North Carolina GOP either find themselves in new positions of influence in the General Assembly, positions they would probably not want to give up just yet, or are local leaders with little statewide name recog- nition and uncertain fundraising prospects. In short, polls show that neither Perdue nor McCrory is certain to be renominated. But a rematch still seems likely. JOHN HOOD, Columnist COMMENTS? editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com LCD 55" 120HZ You are cordially invited to attend the Opening Reception for David McCune’s Art Exhibit WITH DELIVERY AND SET-UP INCLUDED, ANOTA GRANDES AHORROS NUEVA TARIFA SEMANAL BAJA – NO NECESITAS CRÉDITO YOU CAN’T LOSE! Troy Aikman Hall of Fame Quarterback ** Hulk Hogan Pro Wrestler HEavy Metal 1-800-877-7758 rentacenter.com NEW LOCATION! - Fayetteville 9549 Cliffdale Rd (910) 867-1712 The advertised transaction is a rental-purchase agreement. *$29.99 a week for 104 weeks; Total of All Payments: $3,118.96; applies to Toshiba 55HT1. Offer good while supplies last and cannot be combined with any other promotion. The “Total of All Payments” does not include applicable sales taxes or optional fees and other charges (such as late charges) that you may incur. Product availability may vary by store. Free-rent offers will not reduce total rent or purchase-option amounts. You will not own the merchandise until the total amount necessary to acquire ownership is paid in full or you exercise your early purchase option. Ownership is optional. See Store Manager for complete details. Consulta con el Gerente de la Tienda para los detalles completos.**RAC’s “Worry-Free Guarantee” includes (1) Matching Any Local Rent-To-Own Business’s Advertised Price (competing advertised price must be for similar payment, delivery and product service terms for in-stock new merchandise on the same brand and model), (2) Delivery, Set-Up and Service (Delivery and set-up are included and RAC services and maintains the merchandise while on rent; set-up does not include connection of gas appliances), (3) Money Back Guarantee must be exercised within your fi rst week of possession to receive either merchandise replacement or a refund and (4) Payment Protection (re-rent the same or comparable item you returned and pick up where you left off your payments). ROP0311_MON_UP 16 UCW MARCH 9-15, 2011 Saturday, March 12, 2011 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. David McCune International Art Gallery William F. Bethune Center for Visual Arts Methodist University Campus Exhibit runs March 14-April 4, 2011 Gallery Hours: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Please visit Fayetteville’s newest art gallery at Methodist University! www.methodist.edu/art/gallery.htm $2999 TOSHIBA 55" HDTV per 90 DAYS SAME AS CASH PRICE: $1,559.48 NUMBER OF PAYMENTS: 104 TOTAL OF ALL PAYMENTS: $3,118.96 week* Engage En Engage. E ricrich. Empower. Empower WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Opening Recept fo A tist Dav for r ecep ionptio avid McCune