Morgan Jackson

Dalton not interested in race

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:14:22 -0400

Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton is not in the running.

Political consultant Morgan Jackson, who advises Dalton, said that he is not seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 2010, despite recent chatter.

"Dalton is focused on serving the people of North Carolina as lieutenant governor and helping the state navigate through these difficult economic times," he said. "He is currently not considering a bid for the U.S. Senate."

UPDATE: Dalton this morning added: "I'm working hard in my current position to get North Carolina back on top of the (economic) problems we're facing."

Shuler's out, who's next?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:51:13 -0400

Who else might run for Senate in 2010?

After U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler dropped out yesterday, the Associated Press checked in with the top Democratic prospects to face Sen. Richard Burr two years from now.

Their answers:

Attorney General Roy Cooper: Political consultant Morgan Jackson said he won't decide "for a few more months."

Former Treasurer Richard Moore: Said he has no plans but isn't ruling it out.

Secretary of State Elaine Marshall: Said she wasn't seeking the job but wouldn't rule herself out for good.

Schools Superintendent June Atkinson: Said she had "absolutely no intention" of running.

Edwards supporters hear from Plouffe

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:54:35 -0500

About two dozen Democrats gathered in the law offices of Kirby & Holt at noon today to listen to a one-hour talk by David Plouffe, the campaign manager for Barack Obama.

Several participants said there was no explicit pitch for the backers of former Sen. John Edwards. In fact, Plouffe went out of his way to say he understood that some Edwards backers may not be ready to make another choice yet, Rob Christensen reports.

But there were a number of major Edwards backers attending including Chapel Hill businessman Michael Cucchiara, who gave $2 million for the poverty center that Edwards started at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Asked if he was ready to back Obama, Cucchiara said: "No comment."

But Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy, another Edwards supporter, said he was enthusiastically backing Obama.

Foy said the mesage from the meeting was that Obama would be a strong candidate in the May 6 Democratic primary, and would also compete here in November if he was the nominee. Plouffe said Obama could attract enough independents and young voters that he would help all the North Carolina Democrats on the ticket, Foy said.

Others attending the meeting included former House Democratic leader Phil Baddour of Goldsboro, state Rep. Bill Faison of Orange County, Raleigh businessman John Crumpler, former Chapel Hill Mayor Rosemary Waldorf, former state Democratic executive director Scott Falmlen, Democratic consultant Morgan Jackson, and state Senate candidate Josh Stein, who managed Edwards' 1998 Senate campaign.

The event was held in Edwards' former law offices. But Kirby, Edwards' former law partner and longtime friend, was not present. His office said he was trying a case in court.