More on McCrory
I was curious about Pat McCrory's loss in the race for governor, especially in his home county, so I called one of my editorial colleagues in Charlotte for some insight.
Here's how she sees it:
McCrory lost even in Mecklenburg, she says, because:
1. The Obama wave in a heavily Democratic county spurred more straight-party voting.
2. Moderate Democrats who have traditionally supported McCrory chose not to this time.
3. McCrory has begun to wear thin with African Americans in Charlotte, who have not appreciated what they see as his insensitivity in discussing race and crime.
4. And McCrory has been off-putting to some locally because of his short temper.
She added that one key to McCrory winning seven consecutive mayoral races has been a general lack of strong Democratic opponents.
She says she expects that to change and that McCrory probably won't seek another term.
He may, however,seek fellow Republican Sue Myrick's congressional seat when she steps down.
Comments (3)
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Those factors may well be true, Allen. But I still can't believe Charlotte voters would vote against their own self-interests and elect Perdue.
Perdue ran an anti-Charlotte campaign. Her TV ads portrayed McCrory as a city slicker from Big, Bad Charlotte who didn't represent the eastern part of the state.
With that kind of attitude, how can Charlotteans expect a fair shake from the Perdue administration? Even the Charlotte Observer, normally a dependably left-of-center publication called Perdue out on this divisive strategy.
I just don't see even the most fervent Mecklenburg County Democrat could vote for Perdue. I suspect she simply rode Obama's coat tails to victory.
Posted on November 5, 2008 12:37 PM
The only explanation that sounds plausible to me is straight party voting. I worked up some numbers from the Meck Co. elections board site.
Kay Hagan drew 59 percent of her votes in Mecklenburg from straight D voting.
Elizabeth Dole drew 57 percent of her votes from straight R voting.
Bev Perdue drew a whopping 74 percent of her vote from straight D voting.
Pat McCrory drew only 41 percent of his vote from straight R voting.
Clearly, Perdue was heavily dependent on voters not voting for her personally but for the party.
(I have to add a qualifier: Some straight D voters could have crossed over to vote for McCrory. There's no way to tell how many from what's reported on the Meck elections board site. It's also possible, if unlikely, that some straight R voters could have crossed over to vote for Perdue.)
As for McCrory's "weak" opposition in mayoral races:
McCrory defeated Beverly Earle 61-39 last year.
Yesterday, Earle was re-elected to her state House seat with 79 percent of the vote. She doesn't sound like a weakling.
Posted on November 5, 2008 1:18 PM
When you have people voting straight party lines, it proves you do not have a clue! Straight voting should be outlawed! when people can vote,by being told by groups to vote a straight ticket, you get the kind of people we deserve.
Al Franken, a complete moron, darn near won a election! May have. Of course he had the full blessing of the liberal media.
If I was running for a office( trust me, I never will)
reason, I go after the first liberal media that went after my family. If some dumb ass posted that my wife made porn movies. The world would not be big enough for both us!
Of course like a told a good man that run as a republican, you will get stomped, he did. The press went after him, like dog chasing a bone. Just one lie they told, he was against raising the minimum wage. He has never held a public office! Saying that I wish all the liberals well, this is the only country I have! I noticed that Obama is back tracking on his campaign promise and the liberal media is making excuses for him. Bye wife is screaming, honey do!
Posted on November 6, 2008 9:01 AM