Two statewide political action committees have made bipartisan endorsements in local races for the N.C. General Assembly.
Gene McLaurin, a Democrat, and N.C. Rep. Harry Warren, a Republican, were endorsed this week by both the N.C. Chamber of Commerce PAC and the State Employees Association of North Carolina PAC.
Salisbury resident Warren is running for re-election in state House District 77 against challenger Bill Battermann, also of Salisbury. Rockingham resident McLaurin faces opponent Gene McIntyre, of New London, in the Senate District 29 election.
On its website, the North Carolina Chamber PAC says it supports state legislative candidates “whose professional background and record on key business issues demonstrate a commitment to preserving and enhancing a positive climate for business and jobs in North Carolina.”
The State Employees Association PAC also endorsed Democrat Linda Coleman for lieutenant governor, but it decided not to endorse a candidate in the governor’s race.?Richard Hudson took to the podium of the Republican National Convention for a brief speech Tuesday afternoon.
Hudson was one of three North Carolina congressional candidates – the most from any state – to speak at the convention arena in Tampa, Fla.
Hudson, Mark Meadows and David Rouzer are all running in November for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives currently held by Democrats.
Hudson, a Concord resident, is challenging U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell in the 8th District, which now includes the southeastern portion of Rowan County.
“This election is about real people – people who are suffering under the policies of President Obama and his friends like Larry Kissell,” Hudson said in his speech. “It’s about the woman in Thomasville, North Carolina, who told me she has to support two men at home – her husband who was laid off and her recent college graduate son who can’t find a job. And it’s about the home builder in Monroe, North Carolina, who will take any kind of work just to avoid laying off any more employees. And yes, Mr. President – he did build that business.”
“It’s not just time for a change – it’s time for the great American comeback,” Hudson said. “Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are right for America. Obama and Biden are just wrong.”?North Carolina voters now can find their best political match using an interactive tool launched last week.
VoteEasy, found at www.votesmart.org, enables citizens to instantly compare their views on central political issues to those of each presidential and North Carolina congressional candidate, in order to see which candidate will best represent them if elected.
According to a press release by the Vote Smart organization, VoteEasy is powered by issue positions received directly from the candidates via the organization’s 2012 Political Courage Test, or by issue position research investigated by Vote Smart staff using the candidates’ public records.
Since 1996, Vote Smart has conducted the Political Courage Test, which has asked every presidential, congressional, gubernatorial and state legislative candidate in the country one question: “Are you willing to tell citizens your positions on the issues you will most likely face on their behalf?”
VoteEasy’s Congressional candidate information is currently being released state-by-state. It acts as a supplement to Vote Smart’s Voter’s Self-Defense System, which includes the voting records, public statements, biographical information, campaign finances, interest group ratings, and more on over 40,000 candidates and officials.
Founded in 1992, Project Vote Smart is non-partisan and nonprofit in mission., the press release said. It is funded entirely by foundation grants and individual contributions.