Jack Hawke said Barack Obama's impressive get-out-the-vote effort made the climb to the governor's mansion too steep for Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory.
Hawke, a long-time Republican strategist and senior advisor to McCrory's Republican campaign for governor, said he hasn't had the heart to study election returns in depth. And he said he's not one to make a whole lot of excuses.
But in comparing results in federal races to the results in statewide races, it's clear to Hawke that Obama's get-out-the-vote effort helped Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue win the election.
"That vote had nothing to do with the issues beneath a national level," Hawke said. "I think the Obama ground game and the ability they had to organize and get out the vote made a huge difference."
McCrory lost Mecklenburg County by 385 votes. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole lost the county by more than 105,000 votes. Sen. John McCain lost Mecklenburg County by nearly 100,000 votes. So in comparison, McCrory did pretty well.
"I think that's a testament to him as a candidate and maybe to our message," Hawke said.
McCrory performed much better in rural areas and Hawke said the Obama organization was just too strong in urban areas. Without that organization, McCrory could have picked up enough votes in Forsyth, Guilford, Buncombe and Cumberland counties to win the race, Hawke said.
Comments
Re: Hawke: Obama tide too high
November 10, 2008 - 6:35am — MeckDeckNot so simple. The "Obama tide" is just half of what happened in Meck. The other half is that GOPers stayed home.
JAT
Anthony Foxx for Mayor of Charlotte
November 8, 2008 - 10:53am — Gosh (not verified)Agreed.
Re: Hawke: Obama tide too high
November 7, 2008 - 8:31pm — Isaac136Nicely put, WWF165. I wasn't on board with Perdue, either, but am very hopeful that she will prove me wrong and show us all that she's got something important to offer.
ELECTRICITIES CEO TILTON IS OUT
November 7, 2008 - 8:03pm — almanAccording to an email received from BLUENC,
Tilton is out. The ElectriCities board called a special meeting for a closed session, personnel issues, and held it at the Law Firm, an unusual location. The message went out to members of our group who are on the list to receive notices. We immediately knew something was up.
Word leaked out. Tilton is out. But of course, now they are painting it as a resignation to pursue other interests. Not buying it but that is alright. We turned the state blue this week and now we have a fighting chance to repair the damage of 13 years of AIG/ENRON-like CEO blunders at ElectriCities.
http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/ ... l#comments
But will the Board be able to get rid of the other staff who have been paid excessive raises and received excessive increases. And there need to be cuts NOW. We hear word of more big raises and bonuses for staff. Which press will be reading the budget??
And, the word is out that a former legislator has been brought in straight from the legislature to lobby for the group, skirting Ethics laws with a technicality. This is in the division with 90% turnover, and this legislator will be the third person in this position in a year.
More costs running up with all of this and more bad press with bad decision-making. Finally we can turn the page on this CEO but only if the board cleans up the rest of this mess will we make it out of the more of excessive spending called ElectriCities.
http://www.wilsontimes.com/News/Local/S ... versight--
http://www.wilsontimes.com/News/Breakin ... s-Friday--
Re: Hawke: Obama tide too high
November 7, 2008 - 6:26pm — wwf165Dear Picking - Do you read your posts before you hit send? It seems like you have a lot of good things to say, and have strongly held beliefs. But honestly your posts would be a lot more interesting if you could actually hold two opposing thoughts in your head and actually discuss an issue instead of just throwing sand.
Part of the interesting sport of politics is always the post mortem. In fact, we can all learn something from this election. Bev Perdue may learn to play fair and honest, and show up for debates. She has made admirable promises for transparency in her administration. I hope she makes good on those promises. The first glimpse we will have regarding her integrity will be if she choses visionary leaders for cabinet positions rather than her old cronies and campaign contributors.
Gov-elect Perdue did not win this state by numbers that support a sweep - and there were many democrats who crossed over to vote against her for Mayor McCrory. I did not support Perdue in the election, but I will now have an open mind and give her the respect she deserves and hope that she proves me wrong.
WWF165
Re: Hawke: Obama tide too high
November 7, 2008 - 5:10pm — pickingperdueMcCrory ran as negative a campaign as every other candidate. The difference is he hid behind RGA. I am tired of hearing McCrory and his followers whine about everything. He lost; it's over; move on!
This is just so juvenile and like McCroryites to blame, whine, and finger point. Let's stop the negative (yes, you too McCrory) and unite for the future of our state
Re: Hawke: Obama tide too high
November 7, 2008 - 2:58pm — Isaac136I gotta disagree with ya there riverrd. I thought McCrory ran a pretty decent campaign and that Hawke is absolutely correct about why he couldn't quite pull it off.
If anything, he ran *too* decent a campaign, because his was virtually non-negative, and there were a lot of negatives he might have exploited.
Had it not been for Obama's organizational work, I think Perdue would have lost this race. Pretty ironic, considering how much she distanced herself from Obama throughout.
But here we are and we'll see what she can show us.
Re: Hawke: Obama tide too high
November 7, 2008 - 2:35pm — riverrdThis is always the way of the "Boy Mayor". It is never his fault when he FAILS to get what he wants. It is always somebody else! He showed this time after time on the Charlotte City Council. He never takes responsibility!