Heavy Lift for Obama in North Carolina

If President Obama is hoping to pull off the repeat performance of his surprise 2008 win in North Carolina, hell have to supply the star power all on his own. Well-known Democrats have taken themselves out of running for the governors spot one by one, while Republicans have already settled on the strong contender whos easily besting his challengers in polls.In late January, incumbent Gov. Bev Perduestaring down approval ratings mired in the 30s and losing by wide margins in hypothetical match-ups with former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, the presumptive Republican nominee whom she narrowly defeated in 2008announced she would not seek reelection. The Democrat's 11th-hour decision has shaken up the dynamics in the state that the Obama campaign has signaled would be essential to its reelection efforts this year.North Carolina, whose unemployment rate stands at an above-average 9.9 percent, was always going to be the heavy lift for the Obama campaign. Moreover, presidential races always have the bigger influence on statewide races than the other way around.In the state thats going to be contested, its the presidential race that is driving voter attention, that is driving almost everything, said North Carolina State University political scientist Steve Greene.But it appears this year, the president will be getting especially little help from down the ballot.Perdues retirement may have been considered the blessingher brand is considered toxic in the state after the series of well-publicized gaffes and the scandal that led to the indictment of three former campaign aides.I think ultimately its probably better for us to start with the clean start and the fresh face, said longtime Democratic strategist Gary Pearce.The only problem is, nearly all of the states Democratic superstars have said thanks, but no thanks to putting up the fight in the tough election year.Erskine Bowles, the business-friendly ! moderate who served as chief of staff in Bill Clinton's White House and cochair of Obamas bipartisan deficit reduction commission, declined to give it the goarguably the biggest disappointment for Democrats. Bowles, who also served as president of the University of North Carolina system, had wide name recognition and would have been the formidable fundraiser. He was running head-to-head with McCrory in polls.State Attorney General Roy Cooper, another well-reputed, high-powered Democrat, said he doesnt have any plans of running. As of last week, add Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., the former NFL quarterback who is retiring from Congress rather than run in the new Republican-leaning district, to the "no" list. Any of these well-known figures in the North Carolina political establishment might have made Obamas challenge just the bit easier.Who does that leave? Former Rep. Bob Etheridge, who lost to RepublicanRenee Ellmers in 2010 and attracted the worst kind of attention when the YouTube video showing him in the heated confrontation with the college student hit the Internet, is currently the strongest contender. Lt. Gov. Walt Dalton has officially tossed his hat into the ring, along with state Rep. Bill Faison.Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan, who isn't up for re-election until 2014, also doesn't appear like she would be much of the helpher approval rating was 38 percent in the poll last month.Greene said he doesnt sense all that much excitement about the Democratic field as it stands, although it may get more crowded yet. State Sen. Dan Blue, who was the first African American to be speaker of the state House of Representatives, is considering the run, as is Rep. Brad Miller, who also recently announced his retirement from Congress. State Treasurer Richard Moore, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2008, is considering his options, too.More troublesome than the enthusiasm gap may be that the timing of Perdues announcement gives Democrats scant time to assemble and, more importantly, gives the eventual nominee even less tim! e to org anize and raise money. Perdue already had $2 million in her campaign war chest when she decided to back out. McCrory, meanwhile, is the only serious candidate for the Republican nomination.Theres far from the consensus within the Democratic Party who they actually would rally around right now, said Brian Nick, the consultant for the McCrory campaign. Pats got the good infrastructure and hes got the fully operational campaign, and it seems itll be some months before the Democrats will have the same.Nevertheless,the GOP in North Carolina is not discounting the tough race. The Democrats are bringing the nominating convention to Charlotte this summer, and the Obama campaign has indicated that theyre willing to devote considerable resources to keeping the Tar Heel State in their column. That means the robust get-out-the-vote operation that will surely benefit Democrats.North Carolina will certainly be the competitive state, said Wayne King, vice chairman of the North Carolina GOP. [The Democrats] are going to spend the lot of money in North Carolina, and we certainly dont believe that its going to be the cakewalk for us.Pearce, for one, is thrilled that Obama has made North Carolina part of his winning strategy.I love it! Sure, the Democratic strategist said when asked about the wisdom of the approach. If he wins North Carolina, then theres no way the Republican gets elected president. If they cant carry North Carolina, they cant get to the White House. Powered By iWebRSS.co.cc