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I'm looking to build up a list of hashtags used for each state, on Twitter. For example, here in North Carolina the hashtag used for all politics is #ncpol. Keep in mind that I'm mainly concerned with hashtags for politics in general, not for conservatives (say, #ncpol instead of #ncgop) although I won't mind if you throw that in. If there are tags used for regions, cities, counties etc. and they're actually used with some frequency, I'd appreciate those also. Thanks!

RALEIGH -- In an odd political bedfellows moment, three North Carolina congressmen - two progressive Democrats and one religious-right Republican - joined forces Monday to urge the Obama administration to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan. At an anti-war town hall meeting in the Legislative Building, Republican U.S. Rep. Walter Jones and Democratic U.S. Reps.David Price and Brad Miller sought to keep the pressure on the administration to end the American combat operations by the middle of 2013. "Our concern is that too many times, administrations will say that the date for coming home is a year from now, 18 months...

Walter Jones’ campaign is having to dig deep to try and showcase their candidate’s former conservative credentials. Recent Facebook posts labeled ‘From the Archives‘ show two photos of a young Walter Jones with conservative stalwart Senator Jesse Helms nearly 20 years ago. That was then. This is now. Let’s get a little more current, shall we? Cut and Run “Cut and Run” Jones with progressive left-winger Dennis Kucinich.Jones voted for Kucinich’s articles of impeachment against Bush in 2008. Jones also voted numerous times with Kucinich and Pelosi to pull out of Iraq long before the job was done.Support for Dodd-Frank...

What exactly did Occupy Charlotte accomplish before it was dismantled? That is hard to tell from what is probably the most comprehensive “inside” article written about it to date by the Huffington Post. It follows the self-appointed leader of the Charlotte group before what remained of the occupy movement here was disassembled. “I’ve gotten a lot of criticism, especially in the local paper, because one of the reporters said Vic Suter, 22, quit her job to come out to occupy and everybody just started responding, oh she must be an idiot you know,” Vic Suter says, referring to what Charlotte...

Rep. Brad Miller, who has all but said he is challenging fellow Rep. David Price in next year’s Democratic primary in North Carolina, is continuing to walk a fine rhetorical line when it comes to what he plans to do in 2012. Two court cases are challenging the new lines, and Miller told Roll Call last Thursday he is standing “shoulder to shoulder” with the Democrats in the delegation in support of them. But he also has been campaigning in the new 4th and admits as much. “I am the working the district as drawn by the Legislature — [the...

In 2010, Republican Sean Bielat gave Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank the toughest re-election challenge the Democrat had ever experienced. Although Bielat’s insurgent Tea Party-backed campaign fell short of unseating Frank, it was obviously a factor in the 16-term congressman’s decision this week to retire at the end of his current term, rather than seek re-election in a newly redrawn district. Thursday night, Bielat spoke to me in a brief telephone interview.Robert Stacy McCain: So, this is the week of ‘Bye Bye Barney.’ How are you feeling right now? Sean Bielat: [Laughs.] Well, you know, if you would have asked me...

Special to South Florida Times MIAMI — Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain swept through South Florida last week with an early morning stop in Sweetwater. At the Claude and Mildred Pepper Center there, Cain was serenaded to strands of the enduring Cuban patriotic song Guantanamera and was applauded by senior citizens who said they admired el negro – the black man. Soon after, Cain’s red campaign bus took him to Versailles Cuban Restaurant in Little Havana, where throngs of supporters from Cuba’s exile community had waited nearly two hours for his arrival. “Hola, hola, hola, hola,” Cain greeted the cheering...

[...] Cain’s claim that he can win a sizeable chunk of the black vote has a reasonable theoretical basis. Unlike white and, to a lesser extent, Latino voters, African-American voters do not sort their votes neatly by ideology. In 2004, the last time two white candidates competed for the presidency, George W. Bush received 5 percent of the vote from the 30 percent of African American voters who considered themselves liberals, 9 percent of the 50 percent who considered themselves moderate, and a paltry 26 percent of the vote from the 20 percent of African Americans who consider themselves conservative....

Herman Cain's former employees at Godfather's Pizza recall him as an energetic and dynamic leader. They say he listened to new ideas and went out of his way to remember everyone's name and wanted his team to do the same. Four times a year, Godfather's executives would hold corporate meetings with all 300 employees in the company's auditorium in its Omaha headquarters. According to two former employees, at each meeting, Cain would pick one executive at random and call them onto the stage to identify each employee by name. If the executive missed any names, they would be required to...

Raleigh, N.C. – A new poll by the Civitas Institute shows Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain leading Democratic incumbent Barack Obama by five percent among North Carolina voters. Cain is the choice of 46 percent of North Carolina voters if the election for President of the United States was today and the candidates were Herman Cain the Republican, and Barack Obama the Democrat. Forty-one percent said they would vote for Obama, and 10 percent said they are undecided. Cain has the support of 81 percent of Republicans along with 50 percent of unaffiliated voters. Democratic voters would vote for Obama...

Raleigh, N.C. — Seven-term Democratic Congressman Bob Etheridge appeared late Tuesday to lose his re-election bid, becoming the lone casualty among North Carolina's congressional delegation in a pivotal election nationwide. The Associated Press declared Republican challenger Renee Ellmers the victor in the Second District race shortly before midnight. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Ellmers had about a 2,100-vote lead over Etheridge. Etheridge, however, wasn't ready to concede defeat. "I’ve been in close elections before, and we will follow the established process to ensure the integrity of the outcome. We will make sure every vote is counted and every voice...

I'll try to keep up with the results as they come out. The big races: SENATE- Richard Burr (R) (inc) v Elaine Marshall (D) US House 2- Bob Etheridge (D) (inc) v Renee Ellmers (R) US House 7- Mike McIntyre (D) (inc) v Ilario Pantano (R) US House 8- Larry Kissell (D) (inc) v Harold Johnson (R) US House 11- Heath Shuler (D) (inc) v Jeff Miller (R) Republicans are expected to do very well in local races, and Dem pollsters PPP believe we will pick up both chambers of the state legislature.

Actor Morgan Freeman is the voice that narrates GOP congressional candidate B.J. Lawson's latest TV and radio ads. It is Freeman who says: “What is David Price afraid of?” He was referring to the Democratic congressman. Lawson said he was inspired by Freeman explaining the importance of the founding documents in his narration of a video about the Declaration of Independence. “Barbara Streisand wouldn't do this, but Morgan Freeman doesn't have a problem cutting ads against Washington insiders or he wouldn't do it,” said Martin Avila, Lawson's campaign manager. [See article for video]

Raleigh, N.C. – Democratic incumbent Congressman Bob Etheridge’s electoral future appears to be in jeopardy as he trails Republican challenger Renee Ellmers by 5 percentage points with less than one week until the election. According to the poll of 400 registered voters in North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District, Ellmers leads Etheridge 46 percent to 41 percent. Libertarian candidate Tom Rose garners 6 percent of the vote while 7 percent of voters are undecided. Among voters who say they are definitely voting this year, Ellmers’ lead grows to 49 percent to 40 percent. “Bob Etheridge is in the political fight of...

President Bill Clinton will campaign in western North Carolina next week for embattled Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler. Clinton will headline a Thursday rally for Shuler in downtown Asheville. The former president has been traveling the country campaigning and fundraising on behalf of vulnerable Democrats. Shuler, a sophomore lawmaker and former professional football player, faces a challenge from Republican Jeff Miller in the GOP-leaning 11th district. -- Kathleen Hunter

Holden Beach Tea Lemonade PartySat, October 23, 11:30am – 1:30pm 3368 Holden Beach Rd SW, Supply, NC MapSpeakers: Curtis Wright - "On the Beat" Talk Show Host Rev. Mark Perko - Sabbath Home Baptist Church Joe Miller - Cape Fear Fair Tax Joe Kronski - We The People Tyler Krane & Kevin King - Right On Campus "First 100 People get an American Flag" http://www.curtiswrightonline.com/

Raleigh, N.C. – Democratic incumbent Larry Kissell is clinging to a slim one point lead in the race for North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District according to a new SurveyUSA poll released today by the Civitas Institute. According to the poll of 450 registered voters in that district, 46 percent said they would vote for Kissell if the election for United States House of Representatives were today. Forty-five percent of voters said they would vote for Harold Johnson, and nine percent said they are undecided. When looking at those who are most likely to vote in 2010, Johnson takes the lead...

Conservatives for Guilford County Rally Conservatives for Guilford County is sponsoring another Tea Party event. The group is encouraging local conservatives to get involved and volunteer for various campaigns. It is time for all of us to give financially, and/or volunteer our time, to help the candidates we support. If we want to spur positive change, we need to get fully behind the right candidates. Their announcement of the event is as follows: TEA PARTY VOTE Where: Governmental Plaza, Downtown Greensboro When: Thursday, October 14, first day of early voting Come early to vote, then join us at the Tea...

OBX Tea Party to Host Tea Party Rally, Saturday, Oct 9, 10:30-1pm Outer Banks Tea Party is hosting their Victory 2010 Tea Party Rally on October 9th at Aviation Park in Kill Devil Hills. Aviation Park is located on Veterans Drive across the street from First Flight High School. The gates will open at 10:30 am. The Rally starts at 11am and runs until 1pm. Parking is available at First Flight High School. There will be parking assistance at Aviation Park for those who need help with walking. All political parties are invited to this nonpartisan rally; set up a...

State Senator Marc Basnight is crisscrossing the State in hopes of retaining his power as the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. As polling increasingly shows that the Republicans will take control of the Senate, Basnight is spending his vast war chest to help incumbent Democrat Senators keep their seats. A Republican majority in the Senate means new Senate leadership and with it, a marginalized role for Democrats who have controlled that body for over 100 years. A GOP majority in the Senate could spell doom for Dare County if they elect a Democrat Senator. In remarks to the Washington...