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Pat McCrory became head of a group of Republican mayors in 2000.

According to a Dec. 13 article in the Charlotte Observer that year, the Charlotte mayor won a yearlong term as president of Republican Mayors and Local Officials:

RMLO executive board members this fall asked McCrory, who faced no competition, to run for president though he hadn't been particularly active in the group, which pushes Republican solutions to municipal problems. He has earned a reputation among mayors, however, particularly as chair of the Energy and Environment Committee for the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

He said that he would spend a day or two each month in Washington, arguing for Republican solutions to municipal issues on behalf of the 750-member group. In particular, he said he would press for local control and against unfunded mandates.

"It gives me access to both the executive and the congressional branch. It helps open doors, and any time you open doors you help Charlotte," he said. "If I meet with (Senate Majority Leader) Trent Lott, Charlotte's request will be in the room too."

McCrory spoke on the group's behalf at the 2004 Republican National Convention. His speech praising President Bush is being cited in a new TV ad by Democrat Beverly Perdue.

Pat McCrory called George W. Bush a "great president" in 2004.

During a two-minute speech at the Republican National Convention in New York City on Aug. 30, the Charlotte mayor praised Bush's leadership on behalf of the Republican Mayors and Local Officials 527 group.

"As mayors, we are on the front lines of government," he said. "So I'm pleased to say that our president has been a very good friend to mayors."

He spoke about brownfield legislation that rehabilitates industrial waste sites, tax cuts and increased homeownership and "strong and decisive leadership" from Bush on terrorism:

"But most of all, President Bush has helped cities by reassuring people through strong and decisive leadership on the war on terrorism. He understands that to protect our cities we must take the war to those trying to destroy us. We have witnessed leadership in the toughest of times from a great Republican mayor right here in New York City and from a great president during the past four years. Cities large and small will benefit by having President Bush leading us for another four more years."

A new ad from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beverly Perdue attacks McCrory for his ties to Bush, noting that he called him "a great president."

How closely tied are North Carolina's Congressional Republicans to their presidential nominee?

It's much harder to say than it was for the Democrats. The GOP did not have superdelegates, so its members were not required to cast a high-profile vote in their primary.

John McCain had already sewn up the nomination by the time North Carolina voted, so he did few events here to gauge local ties with.

Still, there are a few tea leaves to read. Here is a list, from closest to least close:

Richard Burr: Longtime friend in Senate. Headed platform committee, spoke at convention. Frequent advocate on TV for McCain. Mentioned as long-shot vice presidential pick. Wife spoke at fundraiser. Gives speeches at campaign headquarter openings, speaks on conference calls. Co-sponsored four bills. Received $2,500 donation in 2006 from McCain's leadership PAC. Mentioned as potential Cabinet pick.

Virginia Foxx: Endorsed Mitt Romney in primary. Spoke on recent McCain conference call. Member of the Palin Truth Squad.

Sue Myrick: Skipped national convention. Endorsed Fred Thompson in primary. Member of the Palin Truth Squad.

Elizabeth Dole: Ran against McCain for presidential nomination in 2000. Skipped national convention. Co-sponsored four bills. Husband Bob speaks at campaign headquarter openings. Some Dole backers lobbied for vice presidential pick. Tied to McCain in liberal attack ads.

Patrick McHenry: McCain friend Tim Pawlenty appeared at McHenry fundraiser. Publicly called for conservatives to unite behind McCain in mid-February, but reportedly said McCain nomination would make conservatives "physically ill." Spoke on recent McCain conference call.

Robin Hayes: Received $1,000 donation in 2000 from McCain's leadership PAC. McCain friend Tim Pawlenty appeared at Hayes fundraiser. Skipped national convention.

Walter Jones: Made no endorsement in primary.

Howard Coble: Skipped national convention. Endorsed Mitt Romney in primary.

MINNEAPOLIS — U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole isn't up here in Minneapolis, though her husband has been making the rounds. Former Sen. Bob Dole stopped by the delegation on the convention floor Wednesday evening, then returned Thursday morning for breakfast.

He told reporters that the couple considered whether she should come up for the week. At first, he said, they considered having her fly up for just one night, Barb Barrett reports.

"But that doesn't look good," Bob Dole said. "I think she made the right choice in staying."

How is she spending her time? Elizabeth Dole's schedule shows various visits this week to tout federal programs and visit constituents. But, her husband said, she's also been making a whole lot of calls to counterbalance the millions of dollars being spent by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

"She spends as much as seven hours a day on the phone asking for money," Bob Dole said. "This is not a good year for Republicans; let's face it."

MINNEAPOLIS — Just 36 African-American delegates are at the Republican National Convention this week. Four are from North Carolina.

So it was no surprise that the delegation tackled race at this morning's breakfast, especially in a year with an African American on the presidential ballot — albeit for the other side, Barb Barrett reports.

State GOP chairwoman Linda Daves told delegates the party should do more to reach out to African Americans, but she praised the black attendees in the delegation. Among them are Tim Johnson, chairman of the Buncombe County GOP party, and Ada Fisher, who has just been elected to the Republican national committee for the state.

Also attending as a guest is William Owens, Jr., of Fuquay-Varina, who stumped at this morning’s breakfast for his new, $17 book, "Obama: Why Black America Should Have Doubts."

"I want to say to my white Republican brothers and sisters, if you ever want to understand why African Americans are supporting Obama, you should read this book," he told the group. Owens said that once America deals with racism, then blacks can get past a "victim mentality."

Former Sen. Bob Dole also was at the breakfast, and he reminded reporters that he was the Senate majority leader when the Martin Luther King bill passed declaring a national holiday.

"That wasn't Ted Kennedy; it was Bob Dole," Dole said. But he, too, said the Republican party needs to do more to recruit people of color.

"We can't be one color, one ethnicity," Dole said. "This party, we've got to be a party of diversity."

ST. PAUL, Minn. — In the quest to be two places at once, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole has the next best thing to a clone — an equally famous political spouse.

Former Senate Majority Leader and 1996 Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole dropped by the North Carolina delegation on the convention floor Wednesday, Mark Johnson reports.

The current Senator Dole, who is running for reelection, is skipping the convention, a dramatic difference from 12 years ago when she drew rave reviews for her walk-and-talk speech to the convention, the now famous Dole stroll.

Bob Dole didn't seem to mind the spousal duty and was repeatedly stopped in the corridors for handshakes or news media interviews.

"When you get out of politics," he said, "your numbers go up."

Previously: Don't try to shake Bob Dole's hand.

LAKE MINNETONKA, MINN — Novartis sponsored one of the swankiest events yet for the North Carolina delegation at lunch today. Delegates rode buses to Lake Minnetonka outside Minneapolis to dine at a local country club overlooking the blue waters. Some signed up for boat tours.

They were greeted with mimosas, Bloody Mary’s, wine and a buffet brunch that included eggs benedict, made-to-order waffles, pastries and fruit, Barb Barrett reports. A groaning dessert table included sweets emblazoned with cartoon elephants.

Although convention parties have been somewhat subdued this week because of Hurricane Gustav and new ethics rules governing elected officials, they still go on. They range from the delegation breakfasts and luncheons to elaborate, invitation-only affairs featuring the likes of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee playing late into the night with his band.

Today, Novartis officials talked up the company’s new $600 million vaccine plant being built in Holly Springs. There were posters of the construction and artistic renderings of the final plant, which should start production in 2010.

"We thank you for hosting this lunch," said Sen. Richard Burr in his remarks. "But more importantly, we thank you for investing in North Carolina’s future in bricks and mortar and jobs created."

MINNEAPOLIS — About 30 North Carolina delegates planned to attend a massive volunteer effort this morning for victims of Hurricane Gustav.

The group, wearing matching red polo shirts, were headed to the Minnesota Convention Center to create care packages, Barb Barrett reports.

The Republican National Committee organized the event and had hoped to get 200 volunteers from among the thousands of delegates, alternates, guests and staff attending this week’s convention.

State delegates heard first-hand about Gustav's destruction Monday when a former Louisiana governor attended their delegation breakfast and offered an update. And, being from a state that gets its own share of storms, N.C. delegates can appreciate first-hand the need for relief efforts.

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr had his three minutes of fame Monday.

The Winston-Salem Republican spoke for about that long at the Republican National Convention, though he was upstaged by the media's attention to the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav.

Considered a smart, hard-working policy wonk by his colleagues, Burr is relatively unknown outside his home state. He's been a supporter of Sen. John McCain's since the early days, but he did not get a prime-time speaking slot or make a short list of potential vice presidents.

Instead, he ws charged with co-chairing the platform committee, a job with long hours and little glamour.

In his speech, he said that the this year's Republican Party was welcoming to Libertarians, Democrats, conservatives, moderates and even liberals.

"We have cohesive principles," he said. "This platform is a testament to the American spirit." (N&O)

The pundits may have been stumped, but three North Carolina delegates to the Republican National Convention correctly guessed the Republican vice presidential nominee: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Marshall Hurley, a Greensboro lawyer, said he saw Palin's name in the news about a year ago and began reading up on her. He listed her in a Charlotte Observer survey of delegates earlier this month when asked who John McCain should pick, reports Mark Johnson.

"I don't have any claim to clairvoyance," Hurley said, adding that he's thrilled with the new GOP ticket.

Timothy Johnson, of Weaverville, also listed the "Governor of Alaska."

Jackie Wieland, of Greensboro, said in the survey that McCain should pick someone not expected by the media and public" and offered six options: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, businessman Steve Forbes,
Sen. Joseph Lieberman and Palin.

"This really energizes the party," Wieland said Friday. "A lot of my girlfriends who were Hillary supporters were seriously thinking about McCain, so I'm hoping this will push them over (to his side)."