With the exception of the Nick Mackey seat and the Union County commissioners tilt — where three newcomers ran as a slate expressly against the status quo — voters seem quite pleased with the performance and direction of state and local government. Almost across the board incumbents and the most familiar candidates won, not the candidates promising to shrink government and discard the notion that government can be well-spring of all goodness in the world. Make of that what you will.
What I make is that there is no significant, electorally relevant demand for a smaller state in the Charlotte area. That barring a sudden change in tone by local Republican candidates, there will be no meaningful distinction between them and their Democratic opponents in November, or in subsequent governance no matter who is elected.
As ever, I love to be proven wrong. But my track record argues otherwise.
Update: And special bonus blah to Time Warner Cable for keeping me off-line since 5:30am.
