From The Hotline for Monday, June 23, 2008

NORTH CAROLINA

President Kryptonite

Mon. Jun 23, 2008


President Bush's "brief visit" to NC 6/20 to raise funds for Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory (R) was a "low-profile affair, "closed to the public and the media." "Whether intentional or accidental," there were "no opportunities provided for media to photograph Bush and McCrory" together (Niolet, Charlotte Observer, 6/21).

The "inconspicuous nature" of Bush's trip "illustrates the difficulty that McCrory and fellow Republicans face with the president's approval rating." McCroy said he's "not planning to distance himself from Bush." McCrory: "I'll talk about the issue where I've agreed with him and where I've disagreed with him, just as I did with President Clinton. They're our presidents and we need to work with them. I respect the office a great deal. He offered his help, and I said "'well, I hope you come.'"

NC Dem chair Jerry Meek released an Internet video 6/19 "linking" Bush and McCrory, including footage from the '04 GOP convo where McCrory "praised" Bush and comparing "their positions on school vouchers, children's health care and air pollution." McCrory accused LG Bev Perdue (D) of "using the Democratic Party machine" to "go negative." McCrory: "It was only two months ago that we had positive Bev. Now we're back to the same old immature negative attacks on YouTube" (Ingram, Charlotte Observer, 6/20).

It's All About The Charm

Perdue seemed "more nervous than McCrory" at the NC gubernatorial debate 6/21, her voice quavering "on several occasions" while McCrory "appeared more relaxed and folksy." While Perdue "criticized McCrory's support for vouchers for private schools," McCrory "did not criticize Perdue directly," he sought "to tie her to Raleigh's political system." McCrory: "I want to change the culture of government in the state of North Carolina. I will be a governor who gets out of the governor's mansion to see what your problems are." McCrory also said that he would "work to create a state legislature 'that does not have corruption' and does not make 'back-room deals' behind closed doors" (Christensen, Charlotte Observer, 6/22).

What Would Andy Griffith Do?

McCrory "took on a Democratic icon" Andy Griffith during the debate, who filmed an ad for Perdue for the recent Dem. primary. McCrory: "There is one political reality in North Carolina, and that is every four years about a week or two before the gubernatorial election, Andy Griffith the actor recommends one of the candidates." McCrory "wondered what Griffith's character would do today" concerning the "revolving door" in the criminal justice system, "low pay for judges and prosecutors," and "problems of gangs in small towns." McCrory, on a real life Sheriff Andy Taylor dealing with Otis, the town drunk: "If he jailed Otis right now, Otis would have to go into a cell with maybe 12 or 20 other very, very dangerous people" (Beckwith, Charlotte Observer, 6/22)

Watered Down Politics

At the U.S. Conferance of Mayors, an "absent" McCrory "failed" to fight off a resolution "encouraging cities" to "phase out, where feasible, government use of bottled water and promote the importance of municipal water" and encourage "recycling efforts." McCrory, on the surviving resolution: "It's not pragmatic. What about sparkling water? What about beer? What about Coke? Where do you draw the line?"

The dueling resolutions "represented a small but symbolic front in an ongoing battle between environmental activists and the beverage industry." McCrory, "who said he personally drinks tap water," added he "does not know how much Charlotte's municipal government spends on bottled water." He noted that "Charlotte is home to Pepsi and Coca-Cola bottlers." McCrory: "That industry is important to Charlotte. It's a huge employer" (St. Onge, Charlotte Observer, 6/22).

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