• Pow! The most recent survey of North Carolinians from Democratic firm Public Policy Polling shows Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton blasting past their rivals. With 38 percent, Trump leads the GOP slate, with U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas with 18 percent and Marco Rubio of Florida with 11 percent. Dr. Ben Carson is at 8 percent. On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has 59 percent and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont has 26 percent. The state’s primary is March 15.
• In an unusual move, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee endorsed former Wake County state Rep. Deborah Ross in the primary to square off (most likely) against incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr. The DSCC rarely picks favorites in primary contests. A few days earlier, the AFL-CIO also gave Ross its nod in the Senate primary.
• Former 6th Congressional District candidate Kenn Kopf, a Republican, cited health reasons for his decision not to challenge incumbent GOP Rep. Mark Walker. Walker still faces a primary challenge from Chris Hardin. Democrats Bruce Davis and Pete Glidewell will face off to battle the Republican winner this fall.
• Opponents of the $2 billion Connect NC bond package that will be on the March 15 ballot have filed the paperwork creating an official committee that can raise money to work against the referendum. Nicole Revels, treasurer of NC Against the Bond, says the group hopes to get financial support from a network of several thousand grass-roots activists, in contrast with the backers of the bond package, who have hired consultants and launched a paid media campaign.
