Republicans did well in North Carolina in 2012. Obama surrogate
Paul Begala admitted to CNN that President Obama had given up on the state by the
summer’s end. For the first time in two decades, North Carolinians elected a
Republican governor. Voters also rejected a gay marriage initiate by a two-to-one
margin. Conservatism is alive and well in the Tar Heel state, even if the
National Party’s “Achilles Heel” was revealed for all to exploit in 2012.
Paul Begala admitted to CNN that President Obama had given up on the state by the
summer’s end. For the first time in two decades, North Carolinians elected a
Republican governor. Voters also rejected a gay marriage initiate by a two-to-one
margin. Conservatism is alive and well in the Tar Heel state, even if the
National Party’s “Achilles Heel” was revealed for all to exploit in 2012.
While the national GOP did terribly on November 6th,
the new Republican Governor, Pat McCrory, learned from missteps he had made
running for governor in 2008. Unlike Romney, however, McCrory learned from his
mistakes, aggressively campaigned, and won the governor’s seat. Columnist Byron
York shared McCrory’s mistakes and his mission to make better on his record and
win.
the new Republican Governor, Pat McCrory, learned from missteps he had made
running for governor in 2008. Unlike Romney, however, McCrory learned from his
mistakes, aggressively campaigned, and won the governor’s seat. Columnist Byron
York shared McCrory’s mistakes and his mission to make better on his record and
win.
What happened to him in 2008 when he ran but lost?
McCrory commented:
"In '08, I got killed by the Obama ground
machine," McCrory recalls. "We didn't even know it was happening. The
amount of money Obama put on the ground was something we've never seen before
in North Carolina."
machine," McCrory recalls. "We didn't even know it was happening. The
amount of money Obama put on the ground was something we've never seen before
in North Carolina."
The same “Obama machine” manifested again throughout the
country, killing winnable races in Southern California as well as red-state
Ohio and Indiana.
country, killing winnable races in Southern California as well as red-state
Ohio and Indiana.
What did McCrory do about it? He did not do the “insane”
thing of repeating the past mistakes, as the GOP National leaders did with
Romney.
thing of repeating the past mistakes, as the GOP National leaders did with
Romney.
“He
started earlier.”
started earlier.”
Republicans
campaign for the four months before the election, then go back to their private
sector, limited government, individual liberty lives. For Democrats, politics
is a 24-7 reality, a game that never ends. They do not just campaign, but they affect
the culture of their battlegrounds during off-years. A never-ending ground game
in swing states and some blue states might help the GOP. Wisconsin Governor
Scott Walker had a strong campaign game in place after 2010, which helped him
to fight and best a recall effort in 2012. Romney needed to do the same thing
in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
campaign for the four months before the election, then go back to their private
sector, limited government, individual liberty lives. For Democrats, politics
is a 24-7 reality, a game that never ends. They do not just campaign, but they affect
the culture of their battlegrounds during off-years. A never-ending ground game
in swing states and some blue states might help the GOP. Wisconsin Governor
Scott Walker had a strong campaign game in place after 2010, which helped him
to fight and best a recall effort in 2012. Romney needed to do the same thing
in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
“He
thought through his positions and the way he articulated them.”
thought through his positions and the way he articulated them.”
Todd Akin
of Missouri and Richard Mourdock of Indiana should have done the same thing. When
asked about extending any abortion restrictions, if he would support any in the
near future, McCrory said: None.” Just like that, McCrory solved the problem
which had plagued the controversial candidates who lost easy elections. On other
social issues, too, like “gay marriage”, the GOP needs to keep it short and
simple, or remain the “Stupid” Party, as
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal joshed his Republican peers. Unlike McCrory,
Presidential Candidate Romney faced a harder task from the beginning because of
the overwhelming number of debates that he attended and the streamlined and dragging
procedure for allotting delegates. All of that sparring and debating delayed
the process, which could have been over by February and given Romney a chance to
define himself and regroup. Unfortunately, he pressed further to the right in
order to win the nomination, but could not embrace his comfortable center to
win back centrists or remain believable enough to the base.
of Missouri and Richard Mourdock of Indiana should have done the same thing. When
asked about extending any abortion restrictions, if he would support any in the
near future, McCrory said: None.” Just like that, McCrory solved the problem
which had plagued the controversial candidates who lost easy elections. On other
social issues, too, like “gay marriage”, the GOP needs to keep it short and
simple, or remain the “Stupid” Party, as
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal joshed his Republican peers. Unlike McCrory,
Presidential Candidate Romney faced a harder task from the beginning because of
the overwhelming number of debates that he attended and the streamlined and dragging
procedure for allotting delegates. All of that sparring and debating delayed
the process, which could have been over by February and given Romney a chance to
define himself and regroup. Unfortunately, he pressed further to the right in
order to win the nomination, but could not embrace his comfortable center to
win back centrists or remain believable enough to the base.
“He
built relationships with more people across the state. He worked harder.”
built relationships with more people across the state. He worked harder.”
This part
was missing from the GOP playbook. Republicans forget that Richard Nixon, who
had lost by the slimmest of margins in 1960, did not stop campaigning. He made
friends, pacified enemies, reached out to like-minded constituencies in the
South over eight years. He planned a Southern Strategy ahead of time, but he
also implemented it. He stepped away from a losing fight in 1964. Instead, he let
Goldwater’s extremism pave the way for his glimmering and refreshing pragmatism
in 1968. He articulated a message for the “Silent Majority”, while Romney
insulted nearly half the country with his “47%” remark, followed by his bitter
claim that President Obama won because he gave everyone gifts.
was missing from the GOP playbook. Republicans forget that Richard Nixon, who
had lost by the slimmest of margins in 1960, did not stop campaigning. He made
friends, pacified enemies, reached out to like-minded constituencies in the
South over eight years. He planned a Southern Strategy ahead of time, but he
also implemented it. He stepped away from a losing fight in 1964. Instead, he let
Goldwater’s extremism pave the way for his glimmering and refreshing pragmatism
in 1968. He articulated a message for the “Silent Majority”, while Romney
insulted nearly half the country with his “47%” remark, followed by his bitter
claim that President Obama won because he gave everyone gifts.
McCrory
did not insult his voters, but stressed his experience to get the job done for
his state, where high unemployment and stagnant growth were on every voter’s
mind. He also bashed away at the previous Democratic governor’s abysmal record,
while Romney practically “French-kissed” President Obama during the final
foreign policy debate, followed by his non-presence during the summer and grounded
ground game in Ohio.
did not insult his voters, but stressed his experience to get the job done for
his state, where high unemployment and stagnant growth were on every voter’s
mind. He also bashed away at the previous Democratic governor’s abysmal record,
while Romney practically “French-kissed” President Obama during the final
foreign policy debate, followed by his non-presence during the summer and grounded
ground game in Ohio.
How
about the Hispanic vote? McCrory never said “Self-deport”, but he reached out
to that community, like every voting bloc, with a message about “jobs and the
economy.” He won 46% of the Latino vote, an impressive stat which rivals George
W. Bush’s take of 44% in 2004. Romney only got 27%.
about the Hispanic vote? McCrory never said “Self-deport”, but he reached out
to that community, like every voting bloc, with a message about “jobs and the
economy.” He won 46% of the Latino vote, an impressive stat which rivals George
W. Bush’s take of 44% in 2004. Romney only got 27%.
Today,
McCrory is running on prosperity, not just austerity. Government for public
works is a good government policy, public investment which will invigorate private
enterprise. While a grand-daughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower endorsed
President Obama in 2008, McCrory endorsed Eisenhower’s highway system.
Transportation is a hot issue. Republicans should say “We will build this (road,
highway, bridge) so you can build that (business, entrepreneurship,
profit-margin)”.
McCrory is running on prosperity, not just austerity. Government for public
works is a good government policy, public investment which will invigorate private
enterprise. While a grand-daughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower endorsed
President Obama in 2008, McCrory endorsed Eisenhower’s highway system.
Transportation is a hot issue. Republicans should say “We will build this (road,
highway, bridge) so you can build that (business, entrepreneurship,
profit-margin)”.
Wanting
to win, learning from mistakes, and working hard to work for everybody: Governor
Pat McCrory’s success will help the National Republican Party win again.
to win, learning from mistakes, and working hard to work for everybody: Governor
Pat McCrory’s success will help the National Republican Party win again.