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Sunday Round-up
posted at 2007-08-19 21:36 | Last modified 2007-11-14 10:38
Mid-August in an odd-numbered year is the absolute nadir of political news. Half the press corps cleverly avoids the problem by going on vacation. But the ones who've stayed through the dog days have been plenty busy this week, crunching numbers and looking ahead to '08. Here's the highlights:
The N&O's Rob Christensen takes an analytical look at the mounting gubernatorial horse race between Lt Gov. Bev Perdue and Treasurer Richard Moore - and not just at what they've been raising, but from whom. Very interesting stuff.
Char-O's Jim Morrill says Democratic Rep. Beverly Earle needs to rethink her strategy to become Charlotte's next mayor. Earle made a start this week by appointing two campaign co-chairs, and by taking a swing or two at her probable GOP opponent, Pat McCrory. But Morrill says Earle's stump style needs some polishing if she's going to give the popular incumbent a real run for his money.
And over at The VA Pilot, Cate Kozak reports Senate Pro Tem Marc Basnight's restaurant, the Lone Cedar, is almost ready to reopen, just four months after it burned to the ground.
On the national front
The Democrats' weekly radio address was delivered yesterday by a Raleigh waitress. Fawn Townsend lauded the party's leadership on raising the minimum wage. The AP has more here.
Required viewing this morning: the Iowa Democratic forum aired by ABC. Most everyone behaved, says the Fix's Chris Cillizza, despite the best efforts of moderator George Stephanopoulos. If you missed the show, the full transcript is here. (For a little fun with debate stats, check out Dem contender Chris
Dodd's "Talk Clock.")
Former Senator John Edwards did well today - good news, no doubt, after the rough week he's had. On Friday, the Wall Street Journal's Chris Cooper revisited Edwards' connection to Fortress Investments. Edwards used to work for Fortress, and about half his net worth is still invested there.
One problem: the hedge fund owns a tidy portfolio of subprime lenders, some of which have been actively seeking foreclosures on Katrina victims. Edwards says he wasn't aware of that when he went to work there, and says he's asked Fortress to make changes since the Washington Post first broke the story in May. But as the N&O's Dan Kane points out, it's just not the kind of coverage an anti-poverty crusader wants.
Other interesting stuff
File this under "You're kidding, right?" The N&O's Sarah Ovaska reports today that Wake County law enforcement sometimes sends drunk drivers back out on the road, still drunk, after handing them a citation.
Greensboro's Gerald Witt says things got a little heated over at WGSR-TV, where former editor Jeff Sykes walked in and went off on talk-show producer Charles Roark and co-host Mark Childrey. Sykes was escorted out by police; staff at the station now say they fear for their safety.
Down in SC, The State's Natasha Derrick lined up Saturday in sweltering pre-dawn Charleston with 9000 would-be American Idols.
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