North Carolina on Tuesday May 06, 2008

Archive of North Carolina on Tuesday May 06, 2008

Will states fix 2012 primary process?
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer

While voters in Indiana and North Carolina go to the polls today (May 6) to help Democrats pick Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama as their nominee and Republicans rally behind John McCain, party insiders and state election officials are in informal talks to improve the presidential nominating contests for 2012 and beyond.
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Would-be governors eat, schmooze to last minute
By Mark Johnson, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
The Republican and Democratic candidates for governor turned to airplanes, telephones and restaurants for their final day of trying to sway voters.
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Do celebration plans hint at election outcome?
By Ryan Teague Beckwith, Michael Biesecker and Dan Kane, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
Reflecting their strength in the polls, gubernatorial candidates Beverly Perdue, Pat McCrory and Fred Smith plan to party as the elections results come in tonight.
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Third parties protest rules for spot on ballot
By Titan Barksdale, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
The state's rules for third-party candidates to get on the ballot are unconstitutional, attorneys for Libertarian and Green Party candidates argued Monday in Wake Superior Court.
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Polls open; big turnout foreseen
By Staff Reporters, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
Voters were expected to turn out today in record-busting numbers in the most consequential North Carolina presidential primary in decades.
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Democratic candidates ask N.C. voters for a big turnout
By James Romoser, The Winston-Salem Journal (registration)
GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Democratic presidential candidates made their final pitches to North Carolinians yesterday, urging voters to turn out in record numbers for today's primary.
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Elections officials are ready for high turnout
By Gareth McGrath, Star-News (Wilmington, N.C.)
Long lines, potential traffic jams and a fired-up electorate. Tuesday could turn out to be something unusual in North Carolina voting history: a primary election that actually draws significant numbers of people to the polls.
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Moore talks with diners on stop
By Mary Giunca, The Winston-Salem Journal (registration)
Lunch regulars at the K&W Cafeteria on Peters Creek Parkway got a side of politics with their chicken and greens yesterday when State Treasurer Richard Moore, a Democratic candidate for governor, swept through town before today's primary.
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Lobbying group for state employees announces affiliation with union
By The Associated Press, The Winston-Salem Journal (registration)
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- North Carolina's leading lobbying group for state employees has agreed to affiliate with a union.
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Local leaders state wish list
By April Bethea, The Charlotte Observer (registration)
Extra money and staffing for courts and schools. Authority to ban smoking in public places. Ability for school boards to levy taxes.
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Politics takes center stage across Triad
By Mark Binker, The News & Record (Greensboro)
GREENSBORO, N.C. - North Carolina's place in history was on voters' minds as national and state candidates crisscrossed the state Monday, many of whom stopped in Guilford County.
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Time to vote, and wait
By Barbara Barrett and Rob Christensen, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
DURHAM, N.C. - Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton hunted votes in every corner of North Carolina on Monday, making frantic final appeals that included new television ads, energetic rallies, speeches from spouses and, for a few surprised Durham voters, free pound cake.
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Campaigns in high gear in N.C.
By David Ingram, Barbara Barrett and Rob Christensen, The Charlotte Observer (registration)
Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama made final pitches to Tar Heel voters Monday, criss-crossing the state in their quests for the Democratic presidential nomination.
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Indiana, N.C. voters settling largest remaining contests
By Liz Sidoti and Calvin Woodward, The Charlotte Observer (registration)
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- Voters in Indiana and North Carolina crowded polling places Tuesday as they sought to settle the largest remaining contests in the Democratic presidential nomination struggle between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton that has dragged improbably into spring.
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Worried about Dem distractions, McCrory urges GOP turnout
By The Associated Press, Spartanburg Herald-Journal (registration)
Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory is worried that excitement surrounding the Democratic primary will depress turnout among GOP voters, creating an opening for his rivals in the Republican race for the governor.
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Democrats' arcane delegate rules
By Ryan Teague Beckwith, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
How the Democratic presidential delegates from North Carolina will be divvied up: 134
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Gang violence bill gets mixed reviews
By The Associated Press, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A bill to address gang violence is getting mixed reaction from some North Carolina legislative candidates.
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Polls open in N.C.; some long lines reported
By Peter St. Onge and Steve Lyttle, The Charlotte Observer (registration)
Long lines were reported this morning at some polling places across North Carolina in the state's first significant presidential primary election in two decades.
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A final push for primary voters
By J. Scott Orr, The Star-Ledger (Newark)
DURHAM, N.C. -- In the hours before today's important primaries here and in Indiana, the candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination made final pleas for votes even as they acknowledged the race will almost certainly continue into next month.
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States get in on calls for a gas tax holiday
By Damien Cave, The New York Times
SLOCOMB, Ala. - Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida has been fighting to cut 10 cents from the state's gasoline tax for two weeks in July. Lawmakers in Missouri, New York and Texas have also proposed a summer break from state gas taxes, while candidates for governor in Indiana and North Carolina are sparring over relief ideas of their own.
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2 Md. leaders endorse Obama
By Paul West and David Nitkin, The Sun (Baltimore)
WASHINGTON - On the eve of primaries in North Carolina and Indiana, Barack Obama angled for an advantage on a second front yesterday, picking up pledges from two party leaders in Maryland to pull nearly even with Hillary Clinton in the race for superdelegates.
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Food prices on a roll
By Ellen Simon, The Associated Press, Portland Press Herald
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork.
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Seeking big wins in N.C. and Ind.
By Larry Eichel, The Philadelphia Inquirer (registration)
The primaries in North Carolina and Indiana today offer Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton one more chance to transform their long and bitter struggle for the Democratic presidential nomination.
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Two candidates, two states and one big day
By Shailagh Murray and Perry Bacon Jr., The Washington Post (registration)
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - On a final, fevered day of campaigning, Sen. Barack Obama looked to voters in Indiana and North Carolina to reverse a string of defeats in key states, while Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton fought to keep her improbable comeback hopes alive with a pair of strong showings.
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Oh say, is that banner made in the U.S.A.?
By Kim Mendelsohn, Special to Stateline.org
Lawmakers in 10 states have taken steps to require that American flags bought with state funds be manufactured in this country. While not all the legislation has passed, one state’s new law even bans the sale of foreign-made American flags in that state.
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WORTH NOTING: Voters' guide promotes phone sex
By Pauline Vu, Stateline.org Staff Writer
An Oregon voters’ guide lists a very wrong number. California’s governor insults rural legislators. And Pennsylvania considers selling wine in vending machines. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in.
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Parents turn to states for autism help
By Daniel C. Vock, Stateline.org Staff Writer
(UPDATED 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday May 1) One of the toughest problems facing autism patients, their families and policymakers is paying for treatment. Families are increasingly relying on states to help them cope with the financial, medical and educational needs.

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Fairness of death-penalty panels questioned
By John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writer
Death-penalty supporters are raising questions about the fairness of state commissions charged with studying how capital punishment is carried out in Maryland and Tennessee, claiming the panels will issue reports that ignore their views.
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Seeds of social issues dot 2008 elections
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

With a sagging economy and a divisive war occupying Americans’ minds, will social issues be overshadowed in state elections in 2008?
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Legislators prod Congress on Medicaid, Real ID
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer
As some states tumble into what they fear is a recession, state lawmakers from across the country are pushing Congress for relief from impending federal rules that would force states to pick up more Medicaid costs and spend billions to make drivers’ licenses more secure.
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With justices' OK, voter ID moves ahead
By Daniel C. Vock and John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writers
A decision Monday (April 28) by the U.S. Supreme Court to let Indiana demand photo identification from voters paves the way for other states to do the same during November’s presidential election, experts say.
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More states offer choice in long-term care
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
More states are poised to offer a successful alternative to traditional Medicaid plans that allows elders and the disabled to avoid moving to a nursing facility by hiring friends, neighbors or family members to look after them in their own homes.
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WORTH NOTING: Phantom voter stalks Ala. State House
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
An Alabama lawmaker says someone’s been using his voting machine. Florida’s House Speaker locks the doors and turns off Internet access to make legislators pay attention. And Mayberry’s Sheriff Taylor endorses a North Carolina gubernatorial candidate. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.
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Credit crunch hits states' college loans
By Pauline Vu, Stateline.org Staff Writer

(Updated 11:55 a.m. EDT, April 23, 2008)

The credit crisis has led some state lending agencies to suspend their federal and private student loan programs, forcing thousands of students to search elsewhere for money to pay for college.

Partisan mix in R.I., Conn. poses challenges
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

The blue states of Connecticut and Rhode Island have had a long tradition of electing Republican governors. But in both states, the combination has led at times to difficult — even chaotic — policymaking.
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Will Democrats grow legislative edge in '08?
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

For the past several election cycles, the Democrats have been on a roll in legislative elections. This year, the party is well-positioned to hold its majority of chambers — but greatly expanding Democratic control may not be in the cards.

'Purple' states turn a little more 'blue'
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

The national polls point to a tight presidential race in November. But Democrats have a bit more to cheer about than Republicans do, regardless of who wins the Democratic primary, according to the latest state-by-state electoral-vote projections by “Out There.”
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Governors pitch ambitious programs
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer

Billion-dollar deficits in California, New York and Arizona haven’t stopped governors there and elsewhere from proposing big-ticket items for 2008. Stateline.org looks at proposals from governors’ 2008 "state of the state" speeches and provides an exclusive summary of all the addresses so far.

Commentary: Govs beat White House hopefuls as agents of change
By Gene Gibbons, Stateline.org Executive Editor

This column was published simultaneously by The Politico.

It took a while for most of the presidential candidates to figure out that voters want “change” and action on a variety of issues that affect their lives. They might have gotten it sooner if they had noticed the way that many states, led by innovative governors, are moving forward in areas like health care, immigration and global warming.
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AG contests attract serious attention
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

Once, races for state attorney general were quiet affairs. No longer. Attorneys general can wield enormous power in such areas as consumer protection and criminal prosecutions – and can use the job to vault into higher office. Here's how this year's 10 state races for attorney general are shaping up.
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Iraq casts shadow on 2008 state races
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

Not a single governor or state legislator wields authority over the conduct of the Iraq War, yet a broad range of party strategists and political analysts agree that state races in 2008 will be shaped, mostly indirectly, by public attitudes towards that conflict. Unless there’s a sea change in public opinion, that’s bad news for Republicans.
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WORTH NOTING: Illinois gov runs up travel tab
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s commuting costs start to add up. South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds settles a dispute with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over a cranky game warden. California corrections officials install “flushometers” to control wasteful toilet flushing in prisons. In case you missed any of those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.
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