by John Plecnik
July 23, 2004
Tuesday, July 20th marked the day of North Carolina’s first summer primary in over a decade. Resulting from a protracted redistricting battle, the late primary devastated voter turnout. Few North Carolinians deigned to participate and low turnout led to some intriguing results. While incumbents won the day, another category of candidate may have benefited--many political aficionados believe that ballot position mattered far more than usual. The theory--voters were so apathetic that their tendency to select the first names on the ballot may have actually decided some races.
It was no surprise that Rep. Richard Burr (NC-05) won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate with 88 percent of the vote. However, North Carolina’s Republican gubernatorial contest kept pundits and politicians guessing the night away. While everyone expected former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot, former U.S. Rep. Bill Cobey (NC-04), and former State Sen. Patrick Ballantine to be in the top three, few anticipated how close the race would be. Ballantine was the top vote getter, polling at 30 percent of the electorate. Vinroot also received approximately 30 percent of the vote, with strong support from the Charlotte area. Supporters gave Cobey 27 percent of the vote. Durham and the Triangle constituted his principal base of support. Ending in a virtual tie, no candidate received the 40 percent needed to avoid a runoff. However, Vinroot ceded the race to Ballantine, leaving the former state senate minority leader with the Party’s nomination.
In North Carolina’s 5th congressional district, pundits were surprised to see Ed Broyhill, the son of former U.S. Sen. James Broyhill (NC), fall in the primary. State Sen. Virginia Foxx and City Councilman Vernon Robinson became the top two vote getters of the most expensive congressional primary in the nation. Since neither received 40 percent of the vote, a runoff will take place this august. Forced to call the race, I would anticipate a win for Foxx. already beloved by her constituents as a state legislator, Foxx should have a hefty advantage over the politically controversial Robinson.
The race for North Carolina’s 10th congressional district will also boast an august runoff. Millionaires George Moretz and Sandy Lyons were upset by political incumbents N.C. Rep. Patrick McHenry and Sheriff David Huffman. Huffman received 35 percent of the vote, with McHenry polling at 26 percent. Despite coming in second, I predict a win for McHenry, former state chairman of the North Carolina Federation of College Republicans. His grassroots organization is well suited to a runoff environment. With no gubernatorial race to bring voters to the polls, McHenry’s door to door activism will likely garner the most support.
For the first time post 1994, the Republican Party was excited about North Carolina’s 4th congressional district. Currently held by Dr. David Price, a tenured Duke professor, the 4th district habitually falls to the Democrats. Despite his incumbency, even Price showed signs of concern when Durham lawyer Robert E. "Whit" Whitfield announced his intention to run for the Republican nomination. Price mentioned "Whit" as his opponent in an early fundraising letter and even employed a staffer to videotape the Durham Republican’s campaign events. In a shocking upset, "Whit" Whitfield lost his primary to a political novice, Todd Batchelor of Wake County. While "Whit" performed well across the district, Wake Republicans chose Batchelor in overwhelming numbers. Most believe that prominent members of the Wake GOP jumped in to save Batchelor’s floundering campaign--determined to see a member of their home county succeed. Sadly, this development all but guarantees the liberal Price another term in congress.
Liberal Republicans (a.k.a. Republicans In Name Only or RINOs) led by N.C. Rep. Richard Morgan battled it out with their conservative brethren for control of the state legislature. While Morgan survived his primary against Peggy Crutchfield, many of his allies were not so fortunate. It is safe to assumer that Morgan is no longer the Raleigh power broker he once was. However, the NCGOP exhausted itself and many RINOs retained their seats. The conservatives won the day, but at great cost.
The Democrats had little at stake on Tuesday and there is little to tell. N.C. Gov. Mike Easely (a.k.a. Tax-Hike Mike) easily won the Democrat nomination. Former Clinton Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles had already received the Party’s nod to run, yet again, for U.S. Senate.
Collectively, North Carolina Democrats are hoping for a boost from the Kerry-Edwards ticket. all polls indicate that they are hoping in vain.
John T. Plecnik is a 20-year-old law student at Duke University and Executive Editor of The Devil’s advocate. as Policy advisor for the Duke Chapter, John authored the first-ever statewide platform for the North Carolina Federation of College Republicans.
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