The Democratic ‘Old Guard’
2012-02-06 - by
Governor Perdue didn’t call a press conference or step to a microphone, instead she pulled up the drawbridge to the Governor’s mansion then sent out a short message saying she wasn’t running for Governor – which Democrats, with quiet politeness, greeted with a sigh of relief because the most unpopular Governor in memory was no longer running at the top of their ticket.
Relief was quickly followed by a burst of euphoria (when it appeared Erskine Bowles might run) which was quickly followed by despair when Perdue’s announcement set off a different kind of chain reaction: In short order Congressman Brad Miller, Congressman Heath Schuler, House Leader Joe Hackney, two other House Leaders and nine Democratic legislators were not running.
By the end of last week the Democratic Party’s ‘Old Guard’ was looking as ragged as Napolean’s ‘Old Guard’ after Waterloo.
After a bruising year of fighting battles with Phil Berger and Thom Tillis in the legislature, and facing the even harsher reality of running in new (Republican drawn) districts, a good part of the Democratic Establishment was heading for the tall grass – leaving the rest of the Democrats to figure out the answer to two tough questions.
Money follows power and in the Democrats’ heyday business money flowed into Jim Hunt’s and Mike Easley’s and Marc Basnight’s campaign coffers, but now business is pouring contributions into Phil Berger and Thom Tillis’ coffers – over the last six months Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger raised $500,000 while Democratic Senate Leader Martin Nesbit raised $53,000.
Question 1: How can Democrats defeat Republican candidates who outspend them 3 or 4 or 5 to 1?
Question 2: What about Obama?
For years, Democratic candidates for Governor ran away from the national Democratic ticket during Presidential elections like the plague. North Carolina Democrats were Jim Hunt or Mike Easley Democrats – not Walter Mondale or Al Gore or John Kerry Democrats.
Bev Perdue changed that in 2008 by embracing Obama and she kept on embracing Obama Stimulus Plans, Obama-care and Obama-nomics after the election until North Carolina Democrats became Obama Democrats – and they just suffered the worst election defeat in their history. So does the next Democratic candidate for Governor troop down to Charlotte to embrace Obama or – as Hunt and Easley did – run like the plague?
The Democratic ‘Old Guard’
2012-02-06/
Governor Perdue didn’t call a press conference or step to a microphone, instead she pulled up the drawbridge to the Governor’s mansion then sent out a short message saying she wasn’t running for Governor – which Democrats, with quiet politeness, greeted with a sigh of relief because the most unpopular Governor in memory was no longer running at the top of their ticket.
Relief was quickly followed by a burst of euphoria (when it appeared Erskine Bowles might run) which was quickly followed by despair when Perdue’s announcement set off a different kind of chain reaction: In short order Congressman Brad Miller, Congressman Heath Schuler, House Leader Joe Hackney, two other House Leaders and nine Democratic legislators were not running.
By the end of last week the Democratic Party’s ‘Old Guard’ was looking as ragged as Napolean’s ‘Old Guard’ after Waterloo.
After a bruising year of fighting battles with Phil Berger and Thom Tillis in the legislature, and facing the even harsher reality of running in new (Republican drawn) districts, a good part of the Democratic Establishment was heading for the tall grass – leaving the rest of the Democrats to figure out the answer to two tough questions.
Money follows power and in the Democrats’ heyday business money flowed into Jim Hunt’s and Mike Easley’s and Marc Basnight’s campaign coffers, but now business is pouring contributions into Phil Berger and Thom Tillis’ coffers – over the last six months Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger raised $500,000 while Democratic Senate Leader Martin Nesbit raised $53,000.
Question 1: How can Democrats defeat Republican candidates who outspend them 3 or 4 or 5 to 1?
Question 2: What about Obama?
For years, Democratic candidates for Governor ran away from the national Democratic ticket during Presidential elections like the plague. North Carolina Democrats were Jim Hunt or Mike Easley Democrats – not Walter Mondale or Al Gore or John Kerry Democrats.
Bev Perdue changed that in 2008 by embracing Obama and she kept on embracing Obama Stimulus Plans, Obama-care and Obama-nomics after the election until North Carolina Democrats became Obama Democrats – and they just suffered the worst election defeat in their history. So does the next Democratic candidate for Governor troop down to Charlotte to embrace Obama or – as Hunt and Easley did – run like the plague?