Walton Cartoon: Obama and the State of the Union

Democratic rout looming in North Carolina?

Today, two prominent North Carolina Democrats abandoned their re-election bids, both facing strong possibilities of defeat at the hands of Republicans, raising doubts about the ability of Democrats to repeat their surprise win of the state in the 2008 Presidential contest.

Democratic Governor Beverly Purdue, long trailing GOP challenger Pat McCrory, a former Mayor of Charlotte, in polls, announced that she would not seek a second term. Democratic Congressman Brad Miller also announced he would not seek another term, after being forced to choose between almost-certain defeat at the hands of GOP challengers in his old district or by an incumbent Democrat in another.

These signs of trouble for Democrats in North Carolina as they fight Republicans - and each other - in several high-profile contests which follow the surprise 2010 takeover of the North Carolina General Assembly by the GOP.

Jim Clyburn sleeping during State of the Union?

We couldn't help but want to run this photo, which shows Sixth District Congressman Jim "JC Hammer" Clyburn sound asleep, reportedly during the State of the Union address.

We think it speaks for itself.

It's ok. We didn't see much exciting in his speech either.

Republicans lining up behind House District 97 candidate

Every time Dorchester County's sole Democratic legislator - Rep. Patsy Knight - has been in a contested race, she's only won by a few hundred votes in a seat which has changed hands between parties a total of four times since 2000. The district, which connects rural Democratic upper Dorchester County with the fast-growing Republican areas around Summerville, has long been a swing district - a balance which may have been tipped by redistricting, which cut a number of the more Democratic precincts from the district while adding three precincts from Colleton County (two of which trend Republican).

Reportedly Republican support is quickly gathering around Jordan Bryngelson, a Summerville insurance rep who is also the county's representative to the state's GOP Executive Committee. Like Knight, Bryngelson has long ties in the rural areas of the district and is expected to wage a strong battle for those votes.

We've talked with a number of people who have told us that Knight may take a pass on another bid for the seat.

This race will likely be a top target for the GOP in the fall general elections. If Democrats can keep the GOP candidate bottled up in the Summerville and Colleton County precincts, they could hang on to the seat. If the Republicans can win some crossover voting among the district's rural Dorchester voters, the seat is theirs. Given the changes made by redistricting and continued GOP growth in the district's Summerville precincts, a GOP win may well end over a decade of back-and-forth outcomes in this district.

Three running for House District 44 - and counting

January isn't over and the race for Lancaster County's state House District 44 is heating up with three candidates in the race as two Democrats have announced their plans to seek the seat along with Republican Joseph Coy.

We've heard that Mandy Powers-Norrell, a Lancaster attorney who ran a heated state Senate race in 2008 against now-Congressman Mick Mulvaney back in 2008, is in the running, as is Kershaw attorney Bob Cook. Cook worked under former Democratic Governor Jim Hodges and is currently in private practice. With both having long roots in the district and established political resumes and networks, one can expect a primary match as contentious as the Senate race four years ago.

We're hearing more are looking at the race from the Republican side as well.

Republicans are expected to take a serious shot at picking up the seat, which is being vacated by incumbent Democratic Rep. Jimmy Neal, after waging a strong bid for the seat in 2010 and seeing the county go for GOP Congressman Mick Mulvaney's upset win over former Congressman John Spratt.

Walton cartoon: Infighting

... enough said.

Mitt Romney for President

A rear view of the Bloglandmobile.


The United States faces major challenges both at home and abroad. A stagnant economy has left many Americans convinced things are worse than before Obama took office, while growing interference from the federal government stifles economic growth and a growing debt has funded a series of failed initiatives while providing unprecedented incentives for people not to return to work. Around the world, our nation has lost credibility as our military strength and our will to use it effectively have diminished and our foreign policy grown less decisive.

As the Obama administration lacks the willingness and vision needed to address these growing problems, it’s time for a new President who will take them more seriously and who has the background and leadership ability to get results.

In this year’s Republican Primary, the Blogland has watched the evolving field of candidates, attended many events with the candidates and their representatives and absorbed far more information about them than human beings should be exposed to. After careful consideration, the Blogland will support former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney for the nomination.

Newt Gingrich's Ego Problem

Today's Newt Gingrich event in Florence showed Gingrich as his usual strong, outspoken self. But it also showed how big his ego could get, as he sought to consolidate the support of conservative Republicans behind his candidacy, telling the audience that "a vote for Santorum or Perry is wasted", criticizing fellow GOP candidate Mitt Romney as a moderate who Repubicans should unite against.

He also made sure audience members knew that Santorum "lost his state by the biggest margin of history". It's true, but it was hardly a generous gesture to the Santorum voters he was trying to talk into supporting him.

So why does Gingrich think he is "The One" for conservatives and all others are lost causes?