Jackson’s Withdrawal Strengthens Democrats At the Expense of Republicans

by | Dec 16, 2021 | Politics | 8 comments

State Senator Jeff Jackson announced today that he will has decided to withdraw from the Democratic primary for United States Senate. The move was likely prudent, given his disadvantage in recent opinion polling, and public-spirited in the sense that his withdrawal from the race will clear room for Cheri Beasley to build a general election campaign. While Democrats like Jackson and former state Senator Eric Smith are sacrificing for the good of their party, Republicans are tearing each other apart. This contrast may just give Democrats the special circumstances they need to win a U.S. Senate seat.

First, the Democrats. Jackson’s move reflects a political realism that is admirable in a politician who has drawn interest from statewide activists ever since entering office at the age of 31. Senator Jackson saw the way the race was trending and bowed out, knowing that the only way for a white-male candidate to defeat the accomplished African American, Cheri Beasley, would be to attack a distinguished public servant, causing heartburn within the party. Now, Beasley can concentrate on building a financial and organizational infrastructure for the general election while consolidating support from Democratic panjandrums and activists alike. Jackson clearly did what was best for the party.

Meanwhile, the right-wing Club for Growth has gone on a ferocious tear against former Governor Pat McCrory. In television ads and an extraordinary 12-page direct-mail piece, the Club has charged McCrory with anemic support for the God-Emperor of Red America, one Donald J. Trump, and a supposed affinity for the Chinese Communist Party. These attacks have cut so deeply into McCrory’s image that, even though he still leads in public and private polling, the erratic governor has panicked, even pulling off the classic maneuver of a candidate losing ground by challenging the Club’s choice, Ted Budd, to a debate. The Republican primary is already ugly and divisive, and six months remain for it to get worse.

Make no mistake: divisive primaries can weaken a party in the general election. McCrory himself benefited from the ugly Democratic primary between Richard Moore and Bev Perdue during “Mayor Pat’s” 2008 run for governor. At the presidential level, Newt Gingrich paved the way for the Obama-Biden campaign’s attacks on Mitt Romney’s business record as a vulture capitalist. And Bernie Sanders’s attacks on Hillary Clinton for accepting speaking fees from Goldman Sachs was directly adopted by Trump in his effort to portray Clinton as the epitome of the Washington swamp. The McCrory-Budd demolition derby can only leave the eventual nominee tarnsihed.

So. Senator Jackson has given up a decent shot at becoming the nominee for U.S. Senate in order to strengthen his party. Due to his decision, Justice Beasley will have the time and space to construct the strongest possible campaign in what is likely to be a tough midterm election. Meanwhile, Pat McCrory and Ted Budd along with Budd’s Washington henchmen are spiraling downward into a destructive exchange of attacks that will harm party unity and the image of the eventual nominee. The 2022 election is still likely to take place in an environment friendly to the GOP, but as of today, the North Carolina Democratic Party has gained an important advantage.

They’ve also gained a candidate for North Carolina Attorney General.

8 Comments

  1. Bill Cokas

    Hearing someone express that Republicans can “fix the mess” gave me my biggest laugh of the week. Thanks!

  2. Linda Clark

    Cheri Beasley is well known to NC voters. She will be a formidable candidate
    for the Senate seat. NC is a purple not a solid red state.

  3. Helene Springfield

    Altho it may avert a primary fight & help our party to that extent, I don’t see how Jackson’s withdrawal helps out chances of winning Burr’s seat. Altho’ Beasley is an outstanding candidate, honored highly among Dems, let’s be realistic. When has NC elected a black woman in a statewide election? Or even a black man except for the current Lt. Gov? Not in recent history, if ever, to my knowledge. I believe this will deliver the election to Budd or McCrory and NC will continue to have 2 incompetent Republican senators in addition to gerrymandered House & GA seats.

    • Kayman

      Beasley won statewide in 2016 so that’s recent memory.

  4. Andy Stevens

    No need for a progressive urban RINO like McCrory to stay in the race either. I certainly won’t be voting for him. BTW, will Jeff Jackson rerun for his old seat back in Raleigh now? I hear a Republican supermajority is coming to 16 Jones Street in 2022.

  5. Kayman

    Oh look at the toxic trolls whining about things. I hope McCrory and Budd destroy one another so that Beasley wins by a 5 point advantage in November

  6. phoenix

    I understand that McCory has been playing some pretty underhanded games. using Art popes machine (as old and creaky as it is)

    His time has past. From where I sit in the cheap seats Republicans don’t want wishy wahsy milieu-toast candidates.
    I doubt a democrat is going to win the Senate in what looks to be (so far) a Red wave election.

    But who knows we will see what her policies are. If its the typical democrat schlock (anti-gun etc.)

    Nope, gonna lose.

  7. vonfalkenhyne

    Actually your article is just wishful thinking. The democrat brand at large is so toxic at this point because of the socialist overreach in every sector of our society, that you are going to lose both the house and the Senate in 22. State level offices are going to be a wipeout as well…machinations to cling to power arent going to help..

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