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Why We Ran the "Godless" Ad—And What I'd Do Differently In the final week of the 2008 election, Sen. Elizabeth Dole’s campaign aired a television ad that would be one of the most controversial of the year. The ad criticized our opponent, Kay Hagan, for attending a fundraising event in her honor at the home of two well-known atheists. One was a founding member of the Godless Americans PAC. Many in the media, especially on the liberal side, were quick to point to the ad and claim it backfired, costing Dole the election. Nothing could be further from the truth....

RALEIGH, N.C. — Members of the North Carolina electoral college are set to cast their ballots for the next President and Vice President of the United States. North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall will convene the electors at noon on Monday in the Capitol Building's Old Hall of the House of Representatives in Raleigh. Last month's popular vote determined that electors nominated by the state Democratic Party will cast the official ballots for the state. North Carolina's 15 electors will cast their ballots and prepare certificates of vote for president and vice president. President-elect Obama won North Carolina by...

It's dark and dank. It smells terrible. It's full of black mold and cockroaches. It's filled with felons. It has unsanitary bathrooms and showers. The bathroom stalls are so small that you can't close the door, drop your pants and sit down. You have to leave the door open, drop your drawers and sit down and THEN close the stall door. The breakfasts are usually just cereal and pastries and coffee. The floors are old and wooden and creek when you walk. Sleeping is tough. It's cold and drafty. Yet, through it all, this is home, at least on a...

Remarks against Obama probed Durham police conducting internal investigation; chief says it wasn't a slur Stanley B. Chambers Jr., Staff Writer DURHAM - Derogatory remarks toward President-elect Barack Obama made on a social networking Web site are now the subject of an internal police investigation. A police department employee claims the statements were made on the MySpace pages of two Durham officers. "There's no exact words that were said," said Police Chief Jose L. Lopez Sr. in a telephone interview Wednesday from San Diego, where he is attending the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference. "It wasn't a racial...

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr doesn’t think the Bush administration is making the right call on the financial bailout. Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican, supported the bailout when Congress passed it this fall. But today he questioned Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s decision to reverse earlier plans on the $700 billion financial bailout, reports Barb Barrett. Paulson announced that the federal government will not focus on buying troubled bank assets, but rather will turn to other financial entities that lend money. “The only reason I supported the federal government in the rescue business was the fact that you have no economy if you...

Beverly Perdue is ready to take your suggestions. The governor-elect has set up an online "Suggestion Box" for North Carolinians to submit their ideas and feedback as she begins her administration. "During this transition period, I believe it's important for citizens to be engaged in their government and to have input — this is a way for them to do that," she said. The comment form requires a first and last name and e-mail address. Similar online forms and petitions have been used by politicians in recent years as a tool to gather addresses of potential supporters. Based on Dome's...

If Barr's votes had gone to Palin and her running mate they would have won North Carolina and Indiana. North Carolina: Obama 49.9%, Palin 49.5%, Barr 0.6$ Indiana Obama 49.9%, Palin 49%, Barr 1.1% This would have been more important in a closer election, but it caught my interest when I looked the figures up.

A Cumberland County school teacher is defending her comments to a fifth-grade pupil who expressed support for John McCain in her class last spring. The exchange at Mary McArthur Elementary School was captured by a Swedish television documentary crew, and the video is making the rounds on the Internet including YouTube. In the video, which reportedly aired in Scandinavia earlier this week, teacher Diatha D. Harris calls the Iraq War “senseless” and tells one student whose father is a soldier that McCain would keep troops there for 100 years. The classroom discussion begins with Harris asking the class who they...

This is ghastly. If you are a parent with elementary schoolchildren, you will hit the roof.

President-elect Barack Obama was Friday declared the winner of North Carolina, three days after the US elections, making him the first Democrat to take the state since 1976, media said. Obama's triumph over Republican John McCain in the southern state adds another 15 electoral college votes bringing his total to 364, with 270 were needed to win the election. The results from Missouri, however, are still not declared with the two candidates running a neck-and-neck race with only a few thousand votes separating them, with McCain narrowly in the lead. Missouri has 11 electoral votes. Independent tracking website RealClearPolitics.com said...

Obama supporter. Vile stuff! That teacher should be fired. What a moron! Obama supporters are a death cult as far as I am concerned. Come to think of it, the 30th anniversary of Jonestown Massacre is looming.

Diantha Harris, a teacher in Asheville, N.C., and supporter of Barack Obama, berated one of her students for supporting John McCain. "In my class, Barack Obama won," she boasted. Yeah, condescending lectures have that effect. VIDEO

Tons of people told me that NC would never turn blue. Well it has and being a born and bred tarheel, I'm just sick!! President-elect Barack Obama won the majority of votes in North Carolina, according to The Associated Press. Obama’s win in North Carolina is the first for a Democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter won the state in 1976. The news agency says it declared Sen. Obama the winner after canvassing N.C. counties to determine the number of outstanding provisional ballots. The survey showed there weren’t enough remaining ballots for Sen. John McCain, a Republican, to close a...

Just said Liddy Dole lost

This is the discussion thread for North Carolina results. Post important news and info here; I'll make new posts for the final results of the major races here, but in the meantime, this is where we can sweat and celebrate. Some of the major races other than McCain-Obama, for interested outsiders... Governor: Pat McCrory (R, 13 year mayor of Charlotte) v Beverly Perdue (D, Lt. Governor) Senate: Elizabeth Dole (R, Inc) v Kay Hagan (D, state senator) Lt. Governor: Robert Pittenger (R, state senator) v Walter Dalton (D, state senator) 8th US House District: Robin Hayes (R, inc) v Larry...

No way he's losing NC with this kind of Poll. Look at the internals McCain carries 3 of 4 regions, carries indies by 8, only loses women by 3. Dem sample of 46% to Rep 36% (no way is that NC). McCain takes 88% of Reps and 18% of Dems. Obama takes on 80% of Dems and 10% repubs (which means a +16 to McCain. If Obama can oly take 80% of Dems and lose indies, he cannot win, no way NC aint even close folks, the only reason it is with internals like that is the 10% dem Bias.

Barack Obama and John McCain are evenly matched in the swing states of North Carolina and Missouri, though Obama is strongly outpacing McCain in two of those states’ crucial battleground counties, according to new Politico/InsiderAdvantage polls.

VIDEO AT BOTTOM ON ARTICLE AT SITE--- RALEIGH - As part of a big push by both the Barack Obama and John McCain presidential campaigns, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin visited Raleigh on Saturday evening to hold a campaign rally at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. When she arrived on Saturday afternoon, Sarah Palin was greeted at the airport by a group of children who attend the Tammy Lynn Center for Developmental Disabilities. Palin, whose son Trig has Down syndrome, spent five minutes talking with the relatives of the children as well as leaders of the center. It was an unusually...

We're up by 3! Whoo!

Link at Drudge shows Democratic Senate candidate Kay Hagan, left, greeting voters as they stand in line at an early voting place in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Oct. 31, 2008.The last thing I want to see when I go vote is a candidate. Isn't it illegal to do campaigning within a certain distance of a polling station.The one good thing, the folks in line are looking down. They are uncomfortable with the candidate working the voting line. That speaks well of good old American values, don't encourage a cheater.

Watch the rally here: WRAL.com

All right! I am about 10 feet from Sarah's podium in Raleigh! Can't take pictures from my Blackberry but the crowd is huge... Tens of thousands lined up outside. I managed to get VIP access at the last minute for the family and we're going to get a close-up view of our next Vice President! I'll try to post updates as the night goes on. Any Freepers in the crowd, let me know!

October 31, 2008 04:46 PM EST Barack Obama and John McCain are evenly matched in the swing states of North Carolina and Missouri, though Obama is strongly outpacing McCain in two of those states’ crucial battleground counties, according to new Politico/InsiderAdvantage polls. In North Carolina, Obama and McCain were tied with 48 percent of the vote. Only 3 percent of voters in the state remain undecided. In Missouri, McCain led Obama 50 percent to 47 percent, an edge that was within the margin of error. Voters in North Carolina’s Wake County, however, part of the politically competitive Research Triangle area,...

The presidential race in North Carolina remains a dead heat, with Republican John McCain leading Democrat Barack Obama 49% to 48% in the latest Fox News/Rasmussen Reports poll. Just two percent (2%) say they are still undecided. Four days ago, McCain held a two-point lead over Obama in North Carolina. North Carolina's unusual status as a swing-state has attracted attention from both major campaigns. Barack Obama campaigned in Raleigh today, while John McCain visited Fayetteville yesterday. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the Republican nominee for Vice President, campaigned in Asheville over the weekend, while Democratic VP nominee Joe Biden campaigned in...

Road to Victory Rally: Saturday November 1st in Raleigh, NC What: Road to Victory Rally: Saturday November 1st in Raleigh, NC When: November 1, 2008 4:00 p.m. Where: The North Carolina State Fairgrounds 1025 Blue Ridge Road Raleigh , NC27607 Please join Governor Sarah Palin for a Road to Victory Rally in Raleigh, NC, Saturday November 1st. The Fairgrounds 1025 Blue Ridge Blvd Raleigh, NC 27607 Doors Open at 4:00 p.m. Guests Must Arrive by 6:00 p.m. For more information, please email northcarolina@johnmccain.com or call 919-323-3890 RSVP online and print your ticket for this event Tickets are available for printing...

Rasmussen's latest North Carolina Poll gives Obama a 50-48 edge. But the internals tell a different story. McCain holds support of 93% of Republicans while Obama holds the support of just 86% of Democrats. McCain also holds an 11% advantage among independents. In 2004, there were more Republicans than Democrats voting in this red-leaning state, (40-39%). If you want to assume that Democrats have closed that 1% gap, you can't ignore the fact that McCain has a 6-point advantage in Party Support and an 11 Point advantage in Independent support. The internals should point to a 6-8 point lead for...

Road to Victory Rally in Raleigh, NC SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 01, 2008 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM Address: The North Carolina State Fairgrounds: 1025 Blue Ridge Road Raleigh, NC 27607 Please join Governor Sarah Palin for a Road to Victory Rally in Raleigh, NC Saturday November 1st The Fairgrounds 1025 Blue Ridge Blvd Raleigh, NC 27607 Doors Open at 4:00 p.m. Guests Must Arrive by 6:00 p.m. For more information, please email northcarolina@johnmccain.com or call 919-323-3890 Tickets are available for pickup at our Raleigh Victory Office beginning at 7:00 PM today and at our North Raleigh and Durham Victory Offices beginning...

NEWLAND, N.C. -- Barbara Aycock thought the phone call she received in July, about a meeting for supporters of Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama here, had to be a prank. Sparsely populated Avery County, deep in the Appalachian Mountains, has voted Republican every presidential election in its 97-year history, usually with more than 75% of the vote. There's seldom a Democratic candidate running for county office. With the help of a massive database of potential Democratic supporters, though, the Obama campaign found Ms. Aycock and a group of more than 40 volunteers in the county. "They started coming out of...

Many people at John McCain’s rally in Fayetteville on Tuesday coupled their respect for the Republican presidential candidate with contempt for his opponent, Barack Obama. Any fiercely fought campaign — especially one this close — brings out a fervor among supporters. But McCain’s campaign has caught some heat for what people have said at previous rallies, and McCain himself has publicly rejected attacks on Obama’s character, calling him a “decent, family man.” Overall, the thousands of people at the rally were most excited by McCain’s speech, his military record and his policies. Some, though, had tough words for Obama,...

Palin heading to Raleigh Saturday Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on October 28, 2008 - 4:34pm. Tags: President '08 | Raleigh | Richard Burr | Sarah Palin | Under the Dome Sarah Palin will be in Raleigh Saturday night. The Republican vice presidential candidate will hold an hourlong event in the capital city, according to Sen. Richard Burr. It will likely be the last event of the presidential campaign in North Carolina. Details on the event are not yet available.

McCain is having a rally in Fayetteville, NC here is a link to a live feed of the event http://www.wral.com/news/video/3839039/

Mlakin has the lyrics and video of Sarah Palin in jeans, rocking out to “Redneck Woman”. Good stuff!

The NRA is going up in 10 battleground states with an featuring a tough-talking Chuck Norris touting the Second Amendment and warning against those unnamed politicians who have not supported gun rights. "He’s an American badass," said Chris Cox, the NRA's chief lobbyist, of Norris. Cox wouldn't say how much they were spending on the ad, but that it would be on broadcast and cable, cycled into a seven-figure buy they have up now. They'll air the spot in Colorado, Nevada, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The NRA has spent millions going after Barack Obama...

<p>Supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama are confronting people attending a North Carolina event featuring Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.</p> <p>The faceoff in downtown Asheville included loud yelling and vulgar signs. The event showcased the tension between people who live in the liberal enclave and the others living in conservative counties that surround Asheville.</p>

I just had a call from some friends who are stuck in the crowd outside the Asheville venue for tonight's rally. They've been in the same place (there's no line, just a mob, LOL) outside, but nothing seems to be happening, no movement to get in...they're only about 20 feet from the door. Does anyone know if the venue is packed out already. Doors opened at 4 and you were supposed to be inside by 6...but they've been stuck in the crowd outside for quite awhile now, waiting on word of what's happening. If anyone has any info, could you...

Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin's speech in Asheville Sunday night will kick off a wild week of campaigning across North Carolina that will put all four major candidates on the trail in the state. Palin will speak in a "Road to Victory Rally" at the Asheville Civic Center, 87 Haywood St., around 7 p.m. Country singer and "Redneck Woman" Gretchen Wilson will also appear at the rally. Watch Palin's speech LIVE on WRAL.com. Doors open at 4 p.m., and guests must be inside the civic center by 6 p.m. Tickets are available from the GOP campaign's Web site.

Would the invigorating winds of change blow through the halls of North Carolina's state government if a Republican -- specifically, Pat McCrory, for 14 years the mayor of Charlotte -- were elected governor? You betcha, says McCrory, vowing to dispel what he calls a culture of corruption that has afflicted the capital under Democratic rule.

I thought I saw that Sarahcuda was going to be in Asheville, N.C., (East San Fran), on Sunday. Does anyone have any details, info, ticket details? Thanx.

McCain will speak at a Road to Victory rally Tuesday, October 28th, at The Crown Center in Fayetteville. Doors open at 2:00 p.m. and you can pick up tickets at local victory offices. His running mate Governor Sarah Palin will also make her way back to North Carolina. This time she will head out west to Asheville on Sunday, October 26th, for a Road to Victory rally. It’s happening at the Asheville Civic Center. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. and you must bet there by 6:00 p.m. to get in. Tickets can be picked up at local victory offices or...

North Carolina, for years a safely Republican state, has been seesawing up and down between the two presidential candidates in recent weeks. John McCain now leads Barack Obama by two points, 50% to 48%, in the Tar Heel State, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey. In a survey released on Monday, Obama was ahead by three, 51% to 48%. Last week, the race was tied.

North Carolina, for years a safely Republican state, has been seesawing up and down between the two presidential candidates in recent weeks. John McCain now leads Barack Obama by two points, 50% to 48%, in the Tar Heel State, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey.

Click here to find out more! Mike McWilliams, Citizen Times Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin will pay a visit to Asheville this weekend. The Alaska governor is scheduled to appear Sunday evening at the Asheville Civic Center, according to the McCain campaign. Free tickets to the event will be available from 4-8 p.m. today at the Asheville Victory '08 headquarters, 16 Regent Park Blvd., according to the Buncombe County GOP Web site. Tickets will also be available at McCain campaign headquarters in Bryson City, Boone and Hickory. Electronic tickets can also be downloaded at www.johnmccain.com/calendar, more information is available. Doors...

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin will make a weekend campaign stop in North Carolina. A release from the John McCain campaign said Palin will visit Asheville on Sunday for a "Road To Victory Rally" at the Asheville Civic Center. The event is scheduled to begin after 4 p.m. Palin last visited North Carolina with an appearance at Elon University on Oct. 16. Sunday's rally will be her third visit to the state in as many weeks.

October 23, 2008 A new poll by Winthrop University and South Carolina Educational Television shows a statistical dead heat between Barack Obama and John McCain in Virginia and North Carolina. The poll gathered data from 2,026 likely voters in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina between Sept. 28 and Oct. 19. In Virginia 44.6 percent of respondents said they would vote for Obama if the election were held today, while 43.6 percent would vote for McCain. In North Carolina the numbers were almost the same, with 44.6 percent for Obama and 44.2 percent for McCain. In South Carolina McCain was...

According to statistics released by the Buncombe County Board of Elections, 14,415 new voters have registered since early February. The vast majority (98 percent) of the new voters are registered as Democrats (7,355) or unaffiliated (6,765). The number of registered Republicans stayed roughly the same, going up by 186 new voters. The numbers, released by the Board of Elections this afternoon, show a total of 173,823 voters registered in Buncombe County. As of early February, there were 159,408 registered voters. The increase — approximately 9 percent — is considerable. In February, there were 69,956 registered Democrats, 49,023 registered Republicans and...

Once in a generation, 3 top-ticket statewide contests are as closely fought as are this year's North Carolina elections for President, United States Senator and Governor. And less often still, are the results of 2 of those 3 contests as important to the rest of the country as they may turn out to be in North Carolina in 2008. In the election for President, in a state John McCain must hold if the GOP is to keep the White House, it's McCain 47%, Obama 47%. An Obama win in North Carolina may ensure an electoral college victory for the Democrats...

Late Saturday evening (Oct. 18) I received an e-mail informing me that Barak Obama was holding a rally in Fayetteville, NC on the following morning. I quickly rearranged my plans and grabbed three hours of sleep before heading for NC. As we entered Fayetteville at approximately 8am, I gave my friend, Johnny Hunter, a call to see if he knew about the rally. He had just finished praying with his wife that the Father would send someone to Fayetteville to speak out on behalf of the babies and our blessed Messiah when the phone rang. They told us that we...

Police at Western Carolina University and wildlife officials were investigating the discovery early Monday of a dead bear cub draped with a pair of Barack Obama campaign signs.

Out in the oak woods, it's a good year for the acorn crop. In politics, however, a group called ACORN is having a stormy election season. The Associated Press reports that the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now is under investigation by the FBI for possible involvement in voter registration fraud. That follows Republican complaints that the group, which has signed up over a million new voters nationwide, including 27,000 in North Carolina, is abetting fraud by submitting false registration forms to election officials. Last week John McCain made the startling charge that ACORN may be "on the verge...

The latest Fox News/Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that 51% of North Carolina voters prefer Barack Obama while 48% favor John McCain. No Democrat has won North Carolina in a presidential election since Jimmy Carter in 1976. But Obama has made it clear that he is competing hard for the state’s votes. Last week, the candidates were even in the Tar Heel State. Two weeks ago, Obama was up by a point, and the Democrat enjoyed a three-point edge three weeks ago. In North Carolina, Obama is currently supported by 91% of liberal voters while McCain gets the vote from...