Numbers behind the votes?

The numbers of votes and voters provide a little background behind the two House Democrats who voted against the tax-raising House budget last week.

Rep. R. Van Braxton, a Kinston Insurance agent, won by one of the narrowest victories in the House last fall, 51.6 percent to 48.4 percent, against former Rep. Stephen Laroque, a Republican. Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly two to one in the district, but they don't vote that way. The district crosses three counties -- Greene, Wayne and Lenoir -- that were all won by U.S. Sen. John McCain.

Rep. Cullie Tarleton, a retired broadcaster from Blowing Rock, represents a district with more Republican registered voters than Democrats. He won by a solid margin in the fall, 51.7 percent to 44.3 percent, but he was undoubtedly helped by a Libertarian candidate who took 4 percent of the vote.