Linda Coleman is back. She’s once again going to run for Lieutenant Governor, a race she lost, very narrowly, to Dan Forest back in 2012. Coleman announced her plans today, which means the 2016 election has sort of already started.
The timing is interesting. The state is absorbed with a lot of other things. Snow. The UNC/Duke game. Jeff Jackson. But most interesting of all is this announcement comes just a week after the SEANC’s Dana Cope was forced out, and as the organization is struggling to get back on its feet to reclaim its credibility. The SEANC heavily backed Coleman in both the primary and the general (Coleman, after a stint in the State House representing eastern Wake County, later became director of the Office of State Personnel). Coleman’s ties to the union group were so extensive that her Democratic primary opponent, Eric Mansfield, accused her of “outsourcing” her campaign to them. The group spent about $150,000 to get her through the primary.
In the general election, Dana Cope made it a personal mission to put Coleman in the Lieutenant Governor office, calling Republican candidate Dan Forest “probably the most radical candidate who’s ever run for North Carolina office.” The effort failed and Forest won by less than one-fifth of one percentage point.
Forest is considered a rising star in the state GOP and has been adept at appealing to both the Tea Party and the Republican establishment. But his victory was largely due to McCrory’s coattails and Mitt Romney’s carrying the state. Even if McCrory and Burr are reelected and the GOP presidential candidate wins statewide, it’s not difficult to conceive of a Forest loss.
I don’t think Coleman would be the strongest candidate, though, and for that reason I imagine that, like last time around, she’s going to get primary opposition – maybe from someone like Cal Cunningham. There are a lot of eager beavers among the Democratic ranks and I doubt they’re going to sit back and pass up a great opportunity to get elected to higher office, even one as insubstantial and lacking in responsibility as that of Lieutenant Governor.
Coleman’s early announcement was probably made to get a leg up on potential rivals, as her road to the nomination probably won’t be nearly as smooth as last time. The biggest reason? The loss of Dana Cope at the helm of the SEANC, and the aggressive support of that organization. Looked at this way, maybe the timing isn’t so unusual after all.
John Wynne is the “conservative voice” at PoliticsNC, where he also provides polling analysis and commentary on legislative campaigns. When not writing about politics, he enjoys gardening and listening to opera. Contact: johncwynne@gmail.com.
In 2012 Ms. Coleman was a good candidate running on Barack Obama’s coattails, and performed much better than Walter Dalton, although she still lost to what may be considered the biggest buffoon to ever be elected in the state, Dan Forrest.
It’s early, and now Linda Coleman has made herself into one of those PERENNIAL candidates that you wish would go away, right along with tribulations and corruption of Dana Cope.
New faces, a new future, and strong abilities exist with the candidates that are still considering their announcement.
Leading that group is Winston-Salem Democrat and Councilman James Taylor (who’s wife was just elected to the Forsyth County School Board); following that is Chris Rey, the outstanding young Mayor of little Spring Lake, NC.
Either candidate would be a far better compliment to Roy Cooper, our next Governor.
I wonder how many people know that Dan Forest is the son on long time NC Congressional Rep Sue Myrick and only beat Linda Coleman by 7000 votes in what was a wave election for Republicans in NC. With all that power and money, he was barely able to stagger across the the finish line. I have worked with and know Dan Forest and to call him a buffoon is an insult to buffoons.
Nothing wrong with Linda Coleman, but has already lost to Forrest once . Can’t think of a less qualified person than Dan Forrest. Still can’t believe he was elected LG. but rode in on another Republican wave…He will eventually be found out but need a new candidate. I would vote for Linda Coleman all day long if she is the nominee, but wonder if she is the one to stop this phony.
I also don’t anticipate that SEANC will dump the kind of money into the race they did last time.