North Carolina on Wednesday May 07, 2008

Archive of North Carolina on Wednesday May 07, 2008

It will be McCrory, Perdue in race for governor
By James Romoser, The Winston-Salem Journal (registration)
Democrat Beverly Perdue and Republican Pat McCrory emerged from tough primary campaigns last night to run in the general election to be North Carolina's next governor.
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Perdue will face McCrory in fall
By Benjamin Niolet, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
When voters pick a governor in November, they must consider whether state government is the remedy or the problem.
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Silver Alert helps rescue lost seniors
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
When an elderly person with dementia is lost, seven states can trigger a Silver Alert to let the community know. Proposals in Congress would expand the successful missing persons program to all 50 states.
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Hagan to run against Dole
By The Associated Press, The Winston-Salem Journal (registration)
U.S. Senate candidate Kay Hagan easily humbled four Democratic primary opponents yesterday, but she didn't savor the victory. She immediately turned her attention to the more daunting challenge she faces in November.
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N.C. Republicans give McCain expected win
By Barbara Barrett, McClatchy Newspapers, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
Republicans also voted in the presidential primary Tuesday, and, as expected, they voted overwhelmingly for Sen. John McCain.
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Agencies -- Student loans will still flow
By Ann Doss Helms, The Charlotte Observer (registration)
Despite national rumblings about student loans drying up, Carolinas college students and their families should be in good shape next year, officials say.
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From ages 18 to 106, local voters flock to polls for historic primary
By Veronica Gonzalez and David Reynolds, Star-News (Wilmington, N.C.)
It?s possible no one knows how many times Lacy Williams has voted in a presidential primary. Even she can?t say for sure. What do you expect? She?s 106.
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Hagan to face Dole in U.S. Senate battle
By Lorenzo Perez, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
U.S. Senate candidate Kay Hagan easily outpaced her four rivals in Tuesday's Democratic primary, setting up a historic race against incumbent Republic Sen. Elizabeth Dole. A state senator from Greensboro, Hagan claimed 60.5 percent of the vote with 92 percent of the precincts reporting.
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Governor's race set in N.C.; Indiana awaits tally
By Peter Slevin, The Washington Post (registration)
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - North Carolina voters will choose between Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue (D) and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory (R) in a November election to choose a successor to a two-term Democratic governor barred from seeking a third term.
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State Treasurer
By Staff Reporters, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
Two state lawmakers will vie for state treasurer, unofficial campaign results show.
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State Auditor
By Dan Kane, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
Beth Wood will challenge her former boss, Republican incumbent Les Merritt, in the general election for state auditor.
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Runoff looks likely in race to face Berry
By Michael Biesecker, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
The race among four Democrats to challenge incumbent Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry appears to be bound for overtime.
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Turnout likely set a record
By Clay Barbour, The Charlotte Observer (registration)
The crowds Tuesday were steady, but not overwhelming, as area voters took part in the most-talked-about N.C. primary in decades.
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For McCrory, a convincing victory
By David Ingram, The Charlotte Observer (registration)
Pat McCrory celebrated the latest victory in his undefeated political career Tuesday with more than 100 supporters at the SouthPark Marriott.
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Mackey wins District 99 House nomination
By Greg Lacour, The Charlotte Observer (registration)
Lawyer Nick Mackey, whose failed bid for Mecklenburg County sheriff touched off a nasty political debate, won Tuesday in his second attempt for public office.
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Record number cast votes
By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
North Carolina voters set a new record Tuesday for ballots cast in a presidential primary. "It's a good day," said Lee Thomas, chief election judge at Binkley Baptist Church in Chapel Hill. "A good, spirited electorate. Everyone seems to be glad to be here."
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Senate nomination easy for McKissick
By Rob Waters, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
DURHAM, N.C. - State Sen. Floyd B. McKissick Jr. cruised to an easy win in the Democratic primary in Senate District 20 Tuesday.
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Dalton vs. Pittenger in Nov.
By Dan Kane, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
State Sens. Walter Dalton and Robert Pittenger will face off for lieutenant governor in November, according to unofficial election returns.
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Atkinson, Morgan will go head-to-head
By Michael Biesecker, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
Risen from the political graveyard, Richard Morgan, the ousted N.C. House co-speaker, walloped two GOP primary opponents to earn his party's nomination for state superintendent of public instruction.
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Goodwin, Odom will run to replace Long
By Michael Biesecker, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
Wayne Goodwin, a Rockingham lawyer, won the Democratic nomination for state commissioner of insurance.
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Carroll, Rouzer easily defeat foes
By Wade Rawlins, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
Democrat Kay Carroll and Republican David Rouzer are headed for a fall face-off, both winning by wide margins Tuesday in party primaries for the District 12 state Senate seat.
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McCrory, Perdue to face off
By Mark Johnson and David Ingram, The Charlotte Observer (registration)
Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory will face Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue in the N.C. governor's race, the outsider mayor against the state's No. 2 executive.
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Perdue nominated after high-road pitch
By Benjamin Niolet, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue defeated state Treasurer Richard Moore handily Tuesday to win the Democratic nomination for governor with a campaign that stressed pocketbook, kitchen-table issues such as education and health care.
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Morse tried to lose, but wins House seat
By Josh Shaffer, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
In a bizarre election-night turn, Stan Morse won the Democratic primary for state House District 40 despite endorsing, campaigning for and voting for his opponent.
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McCrory captures GOP nomination
By Lynn Bonner, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory won the GOP nomination for governor Tuesday, setting up contest between a state government outsider and longtime insider Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue in the general election.
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A fresh, fractious era for N.C. Democrats
By Rob Christensen, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
For most of North Carolina's history, there was no chance that a man named Barack or a woman named Beverly would finish atop the heap on election day.
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Obama barrels past Clinton in N.C.
By Barbara Barrett, McClatchy Newspapers, The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)
Sen. Barack Obama's double-digit victory in North Carolina and a narrow loss in Indiana brought him closer to clinching the Democratic nomination for president.
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Hughes likely winner in race for Wright's spot in District 18 race
By Sam Scott and Patrick Gannon, Star-News (Wilmington, N.C.)
Last month, the party leaders spoke for N.C. House District 18. On Tuesday, the people did. In both cases, Sandra Spaulding Hughes prevailed.
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Perdue gets Democratic nomination for governor
By Staff Reporters, Star-News (Wilmington, N.C.)
Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue has won the Democratic nomination for governor.
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Execution is first since ruling
By Robert Barnes, The Washington Post (registration)
Georgia executed killer William Earl Lynd last night, ending a more than seven-month nationwide hiatus on capital punishment prompted by the Supreme Court's examination of lethal injection.
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Former Ind. congresswoman wins gov. primary after tight race
By Gary D. Robertson, The Associated Press, The Washington Post (registration)
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Democratic primary races for the governors' offices in North Carolina and Indiana echoed the contests on the presidential level - one was over quickly, the other was down to the wire.
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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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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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