Democratic political strategist and former Jim Hunt aide Gary Pearce makes a fascinating observation about our state’s political environment on his blog, www.talkingaboutpolitics.com.

North Carolina Democrats have survived three near-death elections: 1972, 1984 and 1994. But will 2010 be the one when the dam finally breaks and we go the way of the rest of the South?

Some smart Democrats here think so. They see a decade – or more – of Republican dominance ahead. They believe 2012 could be a repeat, not a reversal, of 2010. They fear the impact of redistricting. They openly speculate about Governor Perdue losing in 2012.

My view is that if the Republicans in the new legislature fail to deliver on their promise of fiscal conservatism and less government, they will be summarily booted out in 2012.