McCrory Raises GOP Chances writes Clark

Doug Clark in the Greensboro News-Record writes:

McCrory raises Republicans' chances
My column today:

Pat McCrory changes the governor's race into a two-party contest.

Yes, I know there were three Republican candidates off and running before the Charlotte mayor joined the field with plenty of fanfare in Jamestown last week. But I didn't give any of them much of a chance to compete with either Democrat, Richard Moore or Beverly Perdue, in November.

(Read entire article here)

Other excerpts:

"McCrory, though, comes in at a different level. The Ragsdale High School graduate easily won re-election in November to his seventh term as mayor of the state's largest city -- quite an achievement considering the Democrat-tilt of his electorate."

and,

"The fact is, McCrory has a track record that stacks up well against those of Moore, the state treasurer, and Perdue, the lieutenant governor. Both Democrats have won statewide elections, which McCrory hasn't, but two factors can negate that advantage.

One is the negative nature of the Democrats' race. Moore and Perdue bash each other daily. Perdue informs voters that Moore is beholden to the Wall Street interests that have supplied him with so much campaign money, while Moore tags Perdue as a Raleigh insider who's gone along with business as usual.

And that's the second factor. After a long stretch of Democratic Party control of state government, North Carolina voters might listen to appeals for change. Despite the highest gas tax in the Southeast, the state keeps falling further behind in meeting transportation needs. Gains in public education are modest, at best. And political scandals point to a culture of corruption in Raleigh. Voters might believe an outsider can do better."