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People In Politics
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Friday, 29 April 2011 02:01 |
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Democratic Congressman Mike McIntyre (D-7th) won re-election by 8 points last November, yet it was the closest race of McIntyre’s political career. But the fight to represent southeastern North Carolina in the U.S. Congress doesn’t seem to over yet. The Republican McIntyre defeated – Ilario Pantano – has already announced he will challenge McIntyre again in 2012. Pantano joins host Donna Martinez to explain his continuing fight and his views on jobs and the economy. Then David Bass of Carolina Journal discusses the many social-policy bills that have been approved or filed so far this legislative session. They include several on abortion topics, one that recognizes an unborn fetus as a victim when the baby’s mother is murdered or injured, and a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage. That’s followed by a discussion with Democratic political consultant Perry Woods, who talks about Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker’s decision not to seek a sixth term and why the Raleigh mayor’s seat is one of the most coveted mayoral seats in North Carolina politics. Woods, who has been Meeker’s strategist for years, also offers perspective on a bill making its way through the legislature that would scale back early voting, which was used successfully by Democrats in 2008 and by Republicans in 2010. Woods explains that early voting can be a double-edged sword for candidates. Next up is ABC11 TV’s investigative reporter and anchor Steve Daniels, who received a fascinating tip this week about the federal investigation into John Edwards’ campaign finances. Daniels explains why ABC11 put its helicopter in the air over the Alamance County airport. And finally, Martinez updates North Carolina voter registration totals, which show that unaffiliated voters now make up 25 percent of the state’s registered voters, and reports on a national political analyst’s story about North Carolina Democratic Congressmen Brad Miller (13th District) and Larry Kissell (8th District).
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