newsobserver.com projects - Neal mulling run for party chair - Comments

Re: Neal mulling run for party chair

thinc — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:00:16 -0500

I respect jim's cojones in running as an out gay man in North Carolina. That is not an easy task to take up.

But his campaign was run on chutzpah and energy, not organizational ability. In fact, it was mostly a model of disorganization. Near the end, they even put out a faux newspaper that stated a position contradictory to Jim's.

And don't even try to raise the fundraising canard. He was pitiful, loaning himself more than he raised from other people (IIRC).

I harbor some admiration for Jim, but he would be a poor choice for state chair.

Re: Neal mulling run for party chair

liam — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:08:56 -0500

Neal's supposed fundraising prowess was nothing more than a campaign fabrication. Of all the statewide candidates in NC for the May primary, I think Neal raised the least (not including the money he gave to himself). He has done nothing for the party, has no history in the state and he always has this obnoxious air of entitlement around him.
Neal ran one of the worst campaigns in recent memory and would be a disaster for the state dem party. Need proof? Neal only got a few percent more of the vote in the May primary than Marcus Williams...

Marcus Williams for State Party Chair!!!

Re: Hmmmm....

RalAtty68 — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:14:57 -0500

Neal's outstanding debt is more than likely money he personally loaned to his campaign. Unless Hillary Clinton has any advice to give, I doubt he'll see that money again. This guy is an ex-investment banker, and has been a top national fundraiser for numerous campaigns (Wesley Clark, John Kerry). I'm sure he has the fundraising know-how required, and would certainly be largely successful.

Hmmmm....

cornbread — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:08:02 -0500

I thought one of the things Neal supposedly brought to the table in his Senate run was being a "self-funder," but the last FEC report indicated that his campaign was still in debt.

This doesn't necessarily rule him out, but I would question his fundraising capacity if his campaign is still in debt.

Neal mulling run for party chair

bkrueger — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:38:58 -0500

Former Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jim Neal is giving some thought to running for state Democratic Party chairman.

Neal, a Chapel Hill businessman, said he had initially rejected the idea when he was approached last summer. But he said he has received much more encouragement in recent days, reports Rob Christensen.

“I have told people I will consider it,” Neal said. “I want to talk to some more people. I want to make sure there is widespread support for the notion. I think it could be fun and a real challenge. It’s something I’d have to make up my mind real quickly.”

The state Democratic Executive Committee is scheduled to meet Jan. 31 in Raleigh to pick a replacement for Jerry Meek, who is stepping down after two terms.

Meek was elected without the support of Gov. Mike Easley, although traditionally party chairs have been backed by the governor. Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue has not said whether she wants to play a role in choosing the new chair.

A number of Democrats are either running for chairman of thinking about it. They include Dannie Montgomery of Anson County, the state party’s first vice chairman; David Parker of Statesville, a Democratic National committeman; Richard Sullivan of Raleigh, a former finance director for the Democratic National Committee; and Luke Hyde, the 11th congressional district Democratic chair.