North Carolina GOP holds First Gubernatorial Primary Debate
[editor's note, by Allan Louden] Guest Commentary: Dr. Linda Petrou, Wake Forest University
The first NC gubernatorial debate of the 2008 election season was held yesterday, October 20, 2007, at High Point University, High Point, NC, The three major Republican candidates were in attendance; Bill Graham, Bob Orr and Fred Smith. Or as one person referred to them: pretty boy, the nerd and the jock. John Hood of the John Lock Foundation was the moderator. The three candidates agree on most of the issues (surprise) with minor disagreement on the subject of affirmative action. Smith saying it is not needed we should have a level playing field; Graham saying it was needed; and Orr splitting the difference, there should be no quotas for any group (including legacies).
: primary debate, GOP, Governor, North Carolina, Bill Graham, Bob Orr, Fred Smith
Several of them got off good lines --- Smith referred to taxes as the cash register at the end of the buffet line. They were full of facts and figures on the cost to the taxpayers of education or lack of education. The questions from John Hood ranged from education, to highways, to taxes, to immigration. He also was very good in keeping the audience quiet and the candidates to the 2 minute limit. Graham kept referring to himself as the outsider and talked frequently about his successful campaign to lower the gas tax. Orr talked often about having been elected several times statewide. Smith talked about his experiences as a businessman.
All three of these candidates are serious individuals. Except for one or two jab, the debate was remarkably free of personal attacks. The three of them decided sometime ago that they would campaign together a lot of the time and they would not personally attack the other guys. One of them will be the nominee and they all have agreed that they would support that person in the general election. This was reflected in this debate. Hopefully this will continue as we get closer to the May primary and the stakes rise. This was a good first debate.
