Walter Dalton takes aim at Pat McCrory's support of the Republican legislature's controversial 2011 state budget, saying in his latest TV advertisement that it will put North Carolina deeper in the hole.
"You know what they say, when you're in a hole stop digging," Dalton says at the start of the 30-second spot, which will begin airing statewide Thursday.
The initial ad released is sloppy -- first misspelling McCrory's last name -- and also uses a false credit in the upper right hand corner for its claim on the budget. (The ad cites "WRAL, 6/15/11" when the materials the campaign released to reporters says ABC News, 6/15/11.)
McCrory's campaign said Tuesday that the candidate supported the GOP's budget and would have signed it if governor, especially compared to Democrats' proposal.
But other parts are misleading. Dalton's ad says McCrory "has a plan to raise taxes on the middle class," but misses the nuance necessary to level this claim. McCrory's tax plan could very well lead to tax hikes that hit the middle class -- but to say he "has a plan" to do so stretches a bit far.
The problem is McCrory proposes to cut or eliminate personal and corporate income taxes but refuses to put forth a plan to pay for it. Experts suggest McCrory very likely will need to increase new or existing taxes but McCrory doesn't have a plan to do so -- which is the nuance Dalton misses.
"Dalton has officially hit the panic button," said McCrory spokesman Brian Nick. "Dalton is standing above the giant whole that he himself created as the budget chair in running up a $4.7 billion dollar deficit, after inheriting a multi-billion surplus."
As a postscript: McCrory's campaign still says Dalton is misspelling his rival's name because the first "c" in his last name isn't lowercase in the all capital letters, like this: McCRORY.
Comments
Hubbub
September 26, 2012 - 4:20am — S28117Why all the hubbub about Walter this and Walter that? Look at the facts...Wally has been a part of the extablishment in Raleigh for over 12 years and what has he done to improve the lives of those in NC? Why all of a sudden is he going to get all this energy and great ideas implemented? What makes anyone think he will do anything excpet the status quo that we have now. He is part of the problem, obviously condones the problems we have or he would have tried to fix them by now. Don't see where anything new and revealing will come out of keeping the same old agenda in place. Need McCrory in Raleigh, a proven leader that will bring new insight and action.. Time to change the players in Raleigh, take a fresh look at our issues. With McCrory's excellent background of management we can and will do better., You don't keep a Mayor in the largest metropolitan area in the state for 14 years unless he is qualified and able. Think about it.
The unemployment rate in
September 25, 2012 - 5:00pm — WilmingtonDemocratThe unemployment rate in Charlotte doubled under Pat McCrory's tenure as Mayor.
And how can you take any candidate seriosuly who says I will make significant cuts to personal and income taxes but I will not say how I will pay for them.
He will be better than McCrory
September 25, 2012 - 4:08pm — NotaliberalMcCrory is owned by Duke Energy and will only work for them.
Dems dug a crater, not a hole, over past 12 years
September 25, 2012 - 4:01pm — concerned53Wally, thanks a lot for you, Bev and Easley digging this crater for all of NC to climb out of. And you have supported over $7 billion in tax increases along the way! Shame on the voters if we expect Dalton to make us a great state again.