One of these Democrats is almost certainly going to be on the ballot in 2016. The others? It’s anyone’s guess at this point.
Mike Is former U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre mulling a run against Richard Burr? One of the folks at the John Locke Foundation got a call from a pollster (probably not PPP) who looked at the 2016 U.S. Senate race. The pollster matched up Burr with Kay Hagan and also with McIntyre. Those were the only two matchups polled for that contest.
If McIntyre is interested in a bid, it’s unexpected. He was mentioned earlier on as a potential challenger but completely fell off the radar. But he still has a huge warchest from his congressional days and most people think he’s not done with politics. McIntyre was one of the most conservative Democrats in the U.S. House and he would have to mend fences with the progressives in his party in order to have a chance. If he runs statewide – still a huge ‘if’ – look for him to move to the left.
Dan – North Carolina Republicans are still in a celebratory mood following reports that the state had paid off its debt to the feds and also that it will enjoy a $400 million surplus at the end of the year. Democrats, of course, took a very ‘glass half empty’ approach to this news, arguing that the surplus was built on the backs of the poor and the middle class.
Among the Democratic critics were Dan Blue and Josh Stein, both State Senators from Wake County. to running for Senate.
Josh – State Senator Josh Stein has a stalker. In nearly every public event to which he goes, he’s followed by a guy in a business suit and glasses with a video camera. Stein says he’s employed by America Rising, which he claims is funded by the Koch Brothers and Karl Rove.
The aim of the videographer, of course, is to capture embarrassing footage which can be used against Stein in next year’s Attorney General race. A macaca moment, a 47% comment, or an attempt to choke college kids could all be captured on camera and would be problematic for Stein, so he had best be careful. The upside to all this? Stein’s campaign is using the Koch connection for fundraising purposes. If there’s anything to learn from 2014, it’s that nothing motivates Democrats to grab their wallets like an appeal from someone under attack from the Koch brothers.
It’s not the first time Stein has been pursued by a zealous videographer. Last year, the Raleigh lawmaker defeated conservative filmmaker Molotov Mitchell for the District 16 seat.
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.
Mike McIntyre is off his rails if he believes for an instant he would win a primary and certainly no state wide race. Mend fences…no fences to mend those have long been washed away by his voting record in the House. If Dan Blue is thinking about a run he would better use his time to focus on the NC Legislature. As for Stein the GOP should take the guy very seriously. He is very smart and a clever politician. And by your snarky characterization of him obviously the GOP does take him seriously.
Sad part is, it will take a mainstream guy like McIntyre is what it will take to beat Burr in the General election. Mainstream in general society, that is, obviously he’s not in the center of his own Party. And Burr isn’t going to win by the same margin as 2010….too many of his own party simply don’t like and don’t trust him anymore. Maybe it serves them right that he ignores Republicans back home as much as he ignores anyone else.
But this made me laugh, John…….”If there’s anything to learn from 2014, it’s that nothing motivates Democrats to grab their wallets like an appeal from someone under attack from the Koch brothers.”
That’ll work, just ask Kay Hagan. 😉