Carter Wrenn likens Gov. Beverly Perdue to an "errant pin-ball."

In a post on his Talking About Politics blog, the Republican political consultant ponders why Perdue's polling numbers are so bad while President Barack Obama continues to fare okay.

Beverly Perdue was a capable State Senator serving under Marc Basnight, a solid Lieutenant Governor (still serving under Basnight), but now that she's running the show she's suddenly darting in a dozen different directions: First ordering spending cuts, then demanding tax increases, then saying it didn't matter which taxes the legislature raised, then telling legislators they'd raised the wrong ones.

She's bounced around like an errant pin-ball until her house of political cards has collapsed, and for the first time in memory the Governor of North Carolina is less popular than a visit from an IRS agent.

Wrenn says Perdue's problems create problems for Democratic lawmakers in next year's election. He says they need to either drop Perdue "like a hot potato" or find away to pump her back up.

Carter Wrenn says South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford easily tops any politician in North Carolina for sheer moxie.

Even John Edwards.

Wrenn, a longtime Republican political consultant, writes on his Talking About Politics blog that Sanford should get this year's Academy Award for political scandals. He recounts the whole sordid tale of the South Carolina governor's trip to Argentina to see his mistress - and Sanford's claim that it has not prevented him from doing his job, and doing it well.

"There's not a politician in sight in North Carolina who can match that," Wrenn writes. "Not even John Edwards."

Carter Wrenn, a longtime Republican political consultant, is struggling to figure out what the Democrats at the state legislature are thinking.

On his Talking about Politics blog, Wrenn notes that the Democrats first made half the state mad by proposing cuts to all sorts of state programs. Then, he points out, they voted for millions of dollars in tax hikes - making the other half of the state mad.

They might have done better to just pick their poison in the beginning and stick with it. Instead, given a choice between two unpopular positions they managed to endorse both: And gave just about everyone a reason to vote against them.

Carter Wrenn, the veteran Republican strategist, has written a new murder mystery.

And no it doesn't involve politics.

Wrenn has self-published a murder mystery involving a fictional small-town North Carolina lawyer — a former district attorney — trying to solve a series of grisly murders, Rob Christensen reports.

The mystery, called "Spirits of the Air," is not only a whodunit but it also explores the meaning of evil, Wrenn said.

"I tried to write a murder mystery with a character who is particularly evil and explore that whole topic," Wrenn said.

The title is from St. Paul's warning to the church at Ephesus (beware "the prince of power of the air.")

The mystery is available online through Lulu.com, a self-publishing firm.

Wrenn is best known as the Raleigh-based strategist with the now defunct political action committee, the National Congressional Club, that helped elect several conservatives to the Senate, most notably Jesse Helms.

Wrenn has also written a biography of Confederate general Stonewall Jackson. He is also revising a historical novel about Helms and the Congressional Club.

* Gov. Beverly Perdue notes that she never said she'd never furlough; state workers representatives say they're not happy but can live with it.

* Conservative blogger Chris Hayes says what Perdue did was not a furlough, it was a pay cut; speculates that's a frame to sell the plan better.

* Republican consultant Carter Wrenn defends UNC president Erskine Bowles from criticism that he's too busy to run the state colleges.

* All anyone can suggest for Dome's Official North Carolina State Rock Song contest is ... well, you know ... by James Taylor. Other suggestions?

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr is preparing for a fight.

The Winston-Salem Republican said that he expects his Senate race next year will be the focus of a national campaign.

"With the bull's-eye that organizations have put on North Carolina Republicans' backs, there is going to be more money spent in North Carolina than anybody can ever fathom in the next election cycle," he says.

Two statewide polls show Burr's approval rating in the mid 30s, regarded as a low number for an incumbent.

Republican and Democratic strategists say that Burr will need to raise his profile or risk being defined by a flood of attack ads.

"Burr is like a sketch," said longtime GOP consultant Carter Wrenn. "Someone has to paint in these colors. If the [Republicans] get out there first, he could be a strong candidate." (N&O)

The senator is looking to tap the same team that got him elected in 2004, said consultant Paul Shumaker. (GN-R) 

* Cigar-smoking restaurateur says he has no regrets about opening two smoke-free places in Fayetteville, though one customer wanted to fight.

* WUNC reporter Laura Leslie notes that Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton's daughter, Elizabeth, has been a registered lobbyist for eight years.

* Republican consultant Carter Wrenn gives some more advice to Senate Republicans about how to hold the governor's feet to the fire on probation problems.

* Liberal commentator Chris Fitzsimon notices a "puzzling" entry on a list of politicians who should be considered for the U.S. Supreme Court: Mike Easley.

Carter Wrenn wonders if Gov. Mike Easley is projecting.

In a post on Talking About Politics, the Republican political consultant notes that Easley was a bit defensive of Correction Secretary Theodis Beck in criticizing the N&O and the Charlotte Observer.

The governor also says it's a shame that after 33 years of government service, with three weeks left until his retirement, the News and Observer did a 'hatchet job' on his State Correction Secretary, Theodis Beck. One almost feels the governor could have been describing himself. But if we're gonna define success in governing based on a standard of niceness – well, was the governor and Secretary Beck losing track of thousands of paroles ‘nice’ – or negligent?

Wrenn says that Easley's discussion of "niceness" is misplaced.

"After all, is letting a mental patient die after sitting in a chair for two days without care — 'nice'?" he writes. 

The blogosphere has weighed in on Kay Hagan's decision to drop a lawsuit.

The Democratic senator-elect had sued Sen. Elizabeth Dole for a TV ad that criticized her for attending a fundraiser held by an atheist, but dropped the suit this week.

On Talking About Politics, Republican consultant Carter wrenn says a statement by Hagan's spokeswoman that she wanted to end the suit for the good of North Carolina sounds phony.

"Now, why couldn’t Hagan just say, The election's over. I won. So, what’s the point in the lawsuit?" he writes. "The candor would have been refreshing."

Conservative blogger Dan Gearino says the lawsuit was either "stupid or craven."

"If she truly thought Dole's campaign ad went over the line into slander and defamation, and that the court system should be called upon (or would even be willing) to referee political charges and countercharges, she’s a fool who has no business being in Congress," he writes.

Meantime, J.W. Williamson on Watauga Watch was more stoic.

"Apparently, Liddy's losing the election was punishment enough," he writes.

Carter Wrenn says the question Republicans should be asking themselves following Tuesday's election is not a political one.

On his Talking about Politics blog, Wrenn writes:

All the pundits and talking heads in TV land are pontificating about how Republicans revive themselves politically. Do we move to the middle? Do we turn somersaults and stand on our heads? The better question for Republicans to ask ourselves is how did we do such a disastrous job of running the country for eight years? That, not politics, is the root of our problem.

Wrenn says that Tuesday's results were the result of voters asking themselves a simple question: "Do I think Republicans deserve to be reelected? Then they looked at the last eight years and gave a pretty emphatic answer."