What is the Alliance for North Carolina?

Answer:

An independent group running ads attacking Republican gubernatorial nominee Pat McCrory.

As a so-called "527" tax-exempt organization, the Alliance for North Carolina cannot run political ads for or against candidates, though it can run "issue ads" that are negative about a candidate.

The group was formed in May of 2006 as the Pioneer Majority to "communicate with the public on issues that relate to the election of a candidate for state or local office," according to forms filed with the Internal Revenue Service.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the Pioneer Majority received $45,000 from the Democratic Governors Association, another 527 group, in the 2006 elections. It spent the money on research and political consulting in the Oklahoma governor's race.

The group was renamed the Alliance for North Carolina on July 15, 2008. It registered a Web site two days later.

Its Raleigh address — 514 Daniels St. No. 134, Raleigh 27605 — is a Mail Boxes Etc. chain. A second address — 300 M St., Suite 1102, Washington, D.C. 20003 — is the law offices of Sandler, Reiff & Young.

The company listed its contact as Craig Varoga, cofounder of VRS Consulting and a former campaign manager for Gov. Tom Vilsack's presidential campaign.

In mid August, the group released an economic plan that mostly echoed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beverly Perdue's proposals.

The group ran five ads attacking McCrory:

* BEST WAY: In late July, it began airing a TV ad attacking McCrory's positions on community college, the minimum wage and a Charlotte City Council pay raise and encouraging voters to call McCrory. The group reserved $450,000 in air time for the first ad.

* MOVE: In mid August, the group began airing a second TV ad attacking McCrory on the minimum wage, Charlotte pay raises, perks for city officials and a trip to Paris. It spent $250,000 on the second ad, noting on a state form that the money came from the Service Employees International Union.

* RAISE: In late September, it aired a third ad that attacked McCrory over Charlotte's crime raise and pay raises for city police and firefighters.

* STAND UP: A fourth ad in mid-October linked McCrory to President Bush and criticized Charlotte's taxes.

* RESULT: A fifth ad in late October again linked McCrory to Bush, arguing he supported less regulation of big business.

According to the Arlington-based Campaign Media Analysis Group, the group spent nearly $2.4 million on TV ads attacking McCrory.

Money also came from two other 527 groups. The Democratic Governors Association gave $500,000 in financial backing to the Alliance and the National Education Association gave $250,000.

The group's spokesman is Scott Falmlen, a political consultant with Nexus Strategies in Raleigh.

Brief:

An independent group running ads attacking Republican gubernatorial nominee Pat McCrory.

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"The group's spokesman is Scott Falmlen, a political consultant with Nexus Strategies in Raleigh."

Uh, I think Scott is a little more than just your average political consultant - don't ya' think? He's a Dem hitman.

Scott Falmlen, Principal Nexus Strategies
Falmlen has an extensive record of success in managing major political campaigns and party organizations.

For over twenty years, he has served as a campaign advisor, manager, or state party executive director involving competitive races for Governor, the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, the state legislature, and numerous local offices.

Most recently, Falmlen directed the North Carolina Democratic Party’s 2006 Coordinated Campaign effort that resulted in the expansion of Democratic majorities in both houses of the North Carolina General Assembly; that successfully unseated an eight term incumbent Republican member of the United States House of Representatives; and that came within 329 votes of unseating another entrenched Republican incumbent congressman.

Falmlen served as the Executive Director of the North Carolina Democratic Party from 1999-2005 leading the party through Governor Mike Easley’s election and re-election campaigns and overseeing the Party’s efforts in the 2000, 2002, 2004 elections for President, US Senate, US House of Representatives, and the North Carolina General Assembly. During that time, Falmlen also served as President of the National Association of State Democratic Executive Directors.

Prior to his work in North Carolina, Falmlen served as the Executive Director of the Florida Democratic Party from 1995-1999. He also served as the Chief of Staff to the Majority Leader of the Florida Senate and served as Director of External Affairs/Political Director for Florida Governor Lawton Chiles.

What is the Alliance for North Carolina?

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Where is Bob Hall? Paging Bob Hall

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