? A report on the governor’s race by WHQR-FM in Wilmington illustrates why Pat McCrory and Republican groups seek to link Beverly Perdue to the status quo in Raleigh, and why Perdue is hitting McCrory on vouchers & school funding. McCrory blasts a bill making its way through Congress that appears to authorize offshore drilling but in practice takes North Carolina’s most valuable oil and gas resources out of contention for drilling.
? The News & Observer examines the use of nicknames, either traditional or newly invented, by campaign ads and press releases.
? Two state senators running for lieutenant governor, Republican Robert Pittenger and Democrat Walter Dalton, debate on TV for the first and, likely, only time this fall. Pittenger goes after Dalton, a key appropriations leader, on state tax and spending trends. Dalton points to the state’s continued AAA bond rating. Libertarian Phillip Rhodes also participates in the forum, televised by WUNC-TV.
? Two new polls offer dissimilar snapshots of the presidential race in NC. CNN/Time finds a 46-45 race, but ARG has McCain up 11. Neither offers results for the gubernatorial or Senate contests, though it’s probably reasonable to infer what they would be. For what it’s worth, I don’t have much confidence in ARG.
