Archives for October 2014

Are Democratic candidates who steer clear of Obama pushing away black voters?

The third in a list of five myths about black voters by The Washington Post’s Nia-Malika Henderson is: Candidates who distance themselves from President Obama risk losing black voters. That may be a myth, because African Americans in the United States lived with compromise before they could even vote, much less vote for a black candidate for the top office in the country. But in this year’s midterm election, the loyal-for-the-most-part Democrats may mark their ballots with weary resignation and some dissatisfaction.

NC Senate race, less than one week out

CHARLOTTE, NC- Political Contributor Mary Curtis stops by to break down Senator Kay Hagan and House Speaker Thom Tillis’ last push less than one week before the election. She explains why last minute endorsements from celebrites like John McCain, Lindsay Graham and Hillary Clinton are so important and how people really feel about those television ads.

Hillary Clinton — politician and grandmom — plays to Kay Hagan’s base in North Carolina

CHARLOTTE — Was it happy coincidence that Hillary Clinton’s granddaughter is called Charlotte? It certainly helped the former senator, former secretary of state, former first lady and perhaps future presidential candidate get the audience in the Charlotte Convention Center ballroom cheering with the line, “I can’t tell you how much we love the name.” Another grandmother, Kay Hagan, said, “What a name that was picked for her new grand-baby!” It was all to the point in a homey sort of way, framing the message of the day — family, women’s issues and equality and opportunity. During the wait before both took the stage, Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” set a no-nonsense mood.

How Will The Ebola Crisis Affect the Election?

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Recent threats to national security could change how people vote at the polls this November. WCCB’s political contributor Mary C. Curtis weighs in on how the Ebola crisis is influencing voters. Curtis says people have been fearing the Ebola threat more since it arrived in Dallas. Plus, Thom Tillis sat next to an empty seat during a state television program. Sen. Kay Hagan was invited, but declined to attend back in July.

In North Carolina, same-sex marriage goes to church

CHARLOTTE — Standing ovations, applause, the sounds of tambourines — and rainbow colors everywhere, on banners and flags and adorning the stoles around the shoulders of clergy celebrating the fact that same-sex marriage is now legal in North Carolina. In a city known for its churches, Holy Trinity Lutheran hosted an interfaith service that resembled a party, as a crowd of 250 – including many same-sex couples and their families — filled seats downstairs and in the balcony.

Though on Tuesday a federal judge said Republican state legislators had the right to challenge the ruling that said North Carolina’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, on Monday night at Holy Trinity, the mood was joyous.

It’s Never Boring in North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — LIVING in a purple state can be exhausting, but it’s never boring. What we lack in entertainment value — it would be hard to beat our southern neighbor, where Representative Mark Sanford recently broke up with the Argentine “soul mate” he’d had an extramarital affair with while he was governor — we make up for in unpredictability.

Ex-mayor Patrick Cannon sentenced. What’s next for Charlotte and Cannon?

CHARLOTTE, NC- Political Contributor Mary Curtis recaps former Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon’s sentencing on federal corruption charges. Cannon will spend 44 months in prison and was fined $10,000.

Pre-Sentencing Coverage of Patrick Cannon Case

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Terrance Bates has full coverage ahead of the Patrick Cannon sentencing, with political contributor Mary C. Curtis, a Charlotte School of Law professor, and a former member of the FBI on the case and the investigation.

Breaking Down the Third N.C. Senate Debate

Voters got a chance to hear from all three U.S. Senate candidates in Thursday’s debate in Wilmington. Libertarian Sean Haugh stood alongside major party candidates Thom Tillis and Kay Hagan.

WCCB political contributor Mary C. Curtis is helping us understand the tactics they brought used in the final debate.

Curtis says Haugh is consistent with Libertarian philosophy which is less government involvement.

Is the South really as bad as a report says it is?

CHARLOTTE — When the headline is “Why the South is the worst place to live in the U.S.,” it’s an invitation to trash talk. But isn’t that what makes stories like this one in The Post so much fun? They are bound to unleash regional pride and get the blood flowing and the stereotypes flying in the comments section.