David Robinson, chair of the Wake County Republican party, is no longer running for head of the N.C. GOP.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Results from the Civitas Institute’s latest poll released today indicates a majority of North Carolinians are certain they know which party controls Congress and the Governor’s office, but only half of the respondents said they are aware of who controls the General Assembly. 

According to the live caller poll of 600 North Carolina voters, 77 percent of respondents correctly identified the Democratic Party as currently controlling Congress. This marks a significant improvement since Civitas last asked an identical question in July 2008, when only 51 percent of voters correctly identified the Democrats as in charge of Congress.

“With the election of a Democratic President, voters’ are more aware as to who is actually running Washington,” said Civitas Institute Executive Director Francis De Luca.  “President Bush’s term in office somehow clouded the picture as to who was in control of Congress. Voters knew Bush was a Republican, so they transferred that knowledge to think Republicans controlled Congress as well.”

Voters’ knowledge of which party controls the N.C. Governor’s office also improved. In July 2008, 61 percent of voters correctly identified the Democrats as controlling the N.C. Governor’s office. This month, 69 percent of voters again correctly identified the Democrats.

“Perhaps now after five consecutive gubernatorial elections won by Democrats, voters are finally coming to know who is in charge in North Carolina,” added De Luca.  “However it is disconcerting when three out of 10 voters cannot say that Democrats are in charge.”

While showing slight improvement since July, voters still are largely unsure as to which party controls the N.C. House and N.C. Senate. Only half of voters (50 percent) correctly said the Democrats were in charge of the N.C. House and Senate. In July 2008, only 49 percent of voters said they thought Democrats controlled the N.C. House and just 40 percent correctly identified the Senate leadership.

“With the electoral sweep Democrats enjoyed last November, an improvement in voters’ knowledge of the party in power should be expected. However, with only half of voters correctly knowing who is in charge of the N.C. General Assembly, that knowledge of federal government control has not trickled down to the state legislative level,” said De Luca.  

Full text of questions:

“Which political party, Democratic or Republican, controls Congress?”

Democratic- 77%

Republican- 9%

Not Sure- 14%

“Which political party, Democratic or Republican, controls the North Carolina Governor’s Office?”

Democratic- 69%

Republican- 12%

Not Sure- 18%

“Which political party, Democratic or Republican, controls the North Carolina Senate?”

Democratic- 50%

Republican-12%

Not Sure- 37%

“Which political party, Democratic or Republican, controls the North Carolina House?”

Democratic- 50%

Republican- 19%

Not Sure- 39%

The study of 600 registered voters was conducted March 16-19, 2009. All respondents were part of a fully representative sample of registered voters in North Carolina. For purposes of this study, voters we interviewed had to have voted in either the 2004, 2006 or 2008 general elections or were newly registered voters since 2008.

The confidence interval associated with a sample of this size is such that: 95 percent of the time, results from 600 interviews (registered voters) will be within +-4% of the “True Values.”  True Values refer to the results obtained if it were possible to interview every person in North Carolina who had voted in either the 2004, 2006 or 2008 general elections or were newly registered voters since 2008.

ASHEVILLE, N.C.  – North Carolina Rep. Heath Shuler is one of only seven Democratic lawmakers who broke from party leadership to oppose the economic stimulus package.

The House approved President Barack Obama’s $787 billion plan on Friday. No Republicans voted for the measure.

Shuler said in a statement that he would prefer a stimulus plan that focuses more on infrastructure and other investments that have an immediate economic impact. The conservative Democrat from western North Carolina also said he was disappointed that House leadership would rush a vote on the bill without giving members time to fully review it.

The 1,071-page measure combines $281 billion in tax cuts for individuals and businesses with more than a half-trillion dollars in government spending.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A majority of North Carolina voters support the stimulus package Barack Obama has been pushing in Congress- but when it comes to the bailouts for the financial and auto industries, they’re strongly opposed, the newest survey from Public Policy Polling finds.

According to PPP, 50 percent of respondents said they support the stimulus, with 39 percent opposed and 11 percent unsure.

The divide falls largely along party lines, with 80 percent of Democrats but only 16 percent of Republicans in support. Independents oppose it by a 53-33 margin.

Reaction to the stimulus seems to be more of a referendum on whether people like Barack Obama than anything else.

Voter blocs that he did well with in November – women, African Americans, young voters- are all in strong support. Ones that he did not do as well with- whites, men- are more opposed.

“The economic stimulus package is very complicated, and it seems a safe bet that most voters don’t really understand it,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “What that means for public opinion is folks are forming their positions by taking cues from people they trust, leading Democrats who respect Barack Obama to be largely supportive, and Republicans to follow their Senate leadership in opposition.”

Two issues that there is not a lot of division among North Carolinians about are the bailouts of the financial and auto industries. Only 28 percent support the financial bailout and just 27 percent are in favor of the one for the car industry. In those cases Democrats, Republicans, and independents are all opposed although Democrats are somewhat more supportive than the other two groups.

PPP surveyed 1,105 North Carolina voters from Feb. 6 to 8. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.0%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.

Complete results can be found at www.publicpolicypolling.com.

RALEIGH, N.C.  – The North Carolina Democratic Party chose former Buncombe County commissioner David Young as its new leader Saturday as the successor to outgoing state chairman Jerry Meek.

Young received a majority of votes on the first and only ballot. He defeated outgoing party first vice chairwoman Dannie Montgomery and 11th Congressional District Chairman Luke Hyde, party administration director Sallie Leslie said.

Hyde, who finished second in voting out of several hundred ballots cast, made a motion after the vote to elect Young by acclamation, according to another party official.

Young had won the backing of new Gov. Beverly Perdue, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, Meek and dozens of other elected and party officials. He also had statewide name recognition after running unsuccessfully last year for the Democratic nomination for state treasurer.
  
Young takes over for Meek, who served as chairman since 2005. Meek, after two terms, decided not to seek another two-year term.

During Meek’s tenure, state party candidates wrested two congressional seats from Republicans. Kay Hagan defeated U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, and Barack Obama won North Carolina’s electoral votes – a first for Democrats since 1976.

The executive committee, meeting at N.C. State University in Raleigh, also elected Stella Adams as first vice chairwoman and re-elected Delmas Parker as second vice chairman, Leslie said.

DURHAM, N.C.  – More than 100 people from Raleigh, Durham and as far as Jacksonville, N.C. will be watching Barack Obama’s inauguration at the Four Points by Sheraton in Durham on Jan. 20.

The luncheon, titled “Inauguration 2009, Our History Now,” will include food, social commentary and spoken word. The Triangle alumni chapter of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. and the Cary alumni chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. are sponsoring the event.

This historic gathering will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at the Four Points by Sheraton, located at 7807 Leonardo Drive in Durham. The hotel is located near the corner of N.C. 751 and Renaissance Parkway, which is close to The Streets at Southpoint Mall.

“This gathering will allow Triangle professionals to watch this historic event in a mature and relaxed setting without the cold, crowds and inconvenience of being in the nation’s capital,” said Andre McDowell, event co-organizer.

McDowell, like many in the Triangle, aren’t able to go to Washington D.C. but wanted to do more than watch the inauguration from home. He said organizers are already receiving strong responses from people who initially planned on going to Washington D.C. but were discouraged by the cost.

Representatives from both organizations and attendees will be available for interviews.

Attendees are purchasing tickets by contacting a member of either organization or by going to www.ourhistorynow.com. Tickets are $20.

For more information, please contact Nakiva McDowell at (919) 744-1392 or at ourhistorynow@hotmail.com.
About Iota Phi Theta:
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., with over 30,000 members, has become one of the premier organizations for African-American men. Iota Phi Theta is a non-profit organization that abides by the principles of scholarship, leadership, citizenship, fidelity and brotherhood. Founded in 1963, Iota Phi Theta has grown to over 200 chapters across the globe, including chapters at N.C. Central University, Shaw University and N.C. State University. The Triangle chapter of Iota Phi Theta, Alpha Epsilon Omega, is the fraternity’s 2007-08 Eastern Region Alumni Chapter of the Year. For more information on Alpha Epsilon Omega, please go to www.triangleiotas.org.

About Sigma Gamma Rho:
Based out of Cary, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. continues to be a dynamic organization for African-American women. Founded in 1922, Sigma Gamma Rho has grown to over 90,000 members and over 500 chapters throughout the world. The sorority’s national programs include Operation Big Book Bag, which gives school supplies to needy children, and the Sigma Youth Symposium, which addresses youth issues. Locally, the Cary chapter, Theta Lambda Sigma, conducts an annual “Kwanzaa Wine & Cheese” and their “Caring Days” health initiative. For more information on Theta Lambda Sigma, please go to www.carysgrho.org.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Congressman Brad Miller (D-NC) is hosting an Inaugural Town Hall Meeting at the Raleighwood Cinema Grill for anyone interested in sharing their views about the economy, foreign policy, priorities for the 111th Congress and watching the Inauguration Swearing-In ceremony of President-elect Barack Obama.

“This exciting time in America has generated unprecedented interest,” said Rep. Miller. “I regret that my office had such a limited number of Inauguration tickets to distribute, but I hope this celebration provides an opportunity for many more people to share the enthusiasm.”

The Congressman’s office was allocated 198 tickets for the Inaugural Swearing-in ceremony in Washington and received several thousand requests.

The town hall meeting will begin at 10 a.m. Jan. 20.  Miller’s Raleigh office will be distributing opinion surveys and caseworkers will be on hand to answer questions about dealing with federal agencies.

The Congressman invites people to stay from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. to watch the Inaugural Swearing-in Ceremony. A buffet barbecue lunch will be provided. Reservations are required for this town hall meeting and will be on a first come/first serve basis. The Raleighwood Cinema holds a capacity crowd of 300.

To RSVP, call (919) 836-1313, or e-mail RSVPNC13@mail.house.gov.

There will be also be ample opportunity for anyone to be part of the Inaugural activities in Washington, D.C. without a ticket. The entire National Mall, from 3rd Street to the Washington Monument will be open to the public. The Inaugural podium will be visible from the length of the National Mall, and there will be large screen televisions on which to see and hear the swearing in ceremony and President Obama’s Inaugural address. 

In addition, there will be an Inaugural Parade and various Inaugural Balls. Below are links to web sites with information about Inauguration events in Washington:

http://inaugural.senate.gov

http://inauguration.dc.gov

http://www.afic.northcom.mil

RALEIGH, N.C. – The head of the North Carolina Democratic Party has decided two terms is enough.

Jerry Meek said Tuesday he won’t seek a third two-year term leading the party following two successful election cycles. Democrats took two congressional and one U.S. Senate seat from the Republicans and earned the state’s electoral votes through Barack Obama for the first time since 1976.

The 38-year-old Meek said he’s stepping down in part because he’s getting married to state Rep. Tricia Cotham in December and will share time between Charlotte and Raleigh.

State Democrats will choose his successor on Jan. 31 in Raleigh.

WASHINGTON – The national Republican Party wants to make it easier to raise and spend political money and plans to sue the Federal Election Commission to alter a six-year-old law written by John McCain, the defeated Republican presidential candidate.

Republican National Committee Chairman Robert M. “Mike” Duncan said Wednesday that he wants the courts to eliminate restrictions on coordinated spending by national parties and federal candidates and to permit the national organizations to raise money for state parties.

Duncan said he planned to file suits Thursday in federal courts in Washington D.C. and in Louisiana. His goal, he said was to “strengthen the Republican Party and bring a more level playing field to campaign finance.”

The lawsuits represent the most direct party challenge to post-Watergate restrictions on the ability of parties and candidates to work hand-in-hand on political campaigns and on the anti-soft money law that McCain championed in 2002.

Since the 1970s, parties have been limited in the amount of money they can spend in coordination with a House, Senate or presidential candidate. For instance, this year, the RNC and its counterpart, the Democratic National Committee, could only spend $19 million each in consultation with the McCain or the Barack Obama campaigns.
 
The limits mean that the parties, since the 1990s, have set up independent expenditure units that can spend money on behalf of candidates as long as they have no contact with each other. The RNC spent more than $50 million against Obama through its independent operation.
  
“That results in these expenditure units being given money without direction, without coordination,” Duncan said. “You get results where candidates are often upset with the message that is going out.”

The RNC’s effort to permit fundraising for state parties and state candidates would reverse a key component of the 2002 law that McCain helped write with Democratic Sen. Russell Feingold of Wisconsin and House members Christopher Shays, R-Conn., and Martin Meehan, D-Mass.

Under that law, the national parties can only raise money under federal fundraising restrictions. The law banned the national parties from raising so-called soft-money – that is, unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions or individuals. If the national parties can raise money for state parties or for state candidates, they would adjust that fundraising to state limits, some of which are not as strict as federal law.

Duncan said he wants the RNC chairman to be able to raise money next year, for example, for governors’ races in Virginia and New Jersey. Duncan was spelling out his plans for the lawsuits to governors attending the Republican Governor’s Association meeting in Miami.

He said such greater fundraising freedom also would strengthen the party’s hand for congressional redistricting efforts. The party money could be used to help elect state officials who have a hand in making redistricting decisions and to finance litigation challenging any new district lines.