NORTH CAROLINA PRIMARY POLITICS
It looks like the runoff is set for next month in the Republican battle to take on failed governor Mike Easley. The runoff should be between Patrick Ballantine and Richard Vinroot. Cobey is toast. He's in third place and it appears that all of the votes in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill are in at this hour (with Cobey getting 38% in Wake Co. and Ballantine showing big strength with 33%). The two respresentatives of the new NC Republican party have defeated the old, represented by Cobey and Little. Don't know where Fern or Dan fit. Don't care.

Too bad the party has chosen protectionist Jim Snyder to run for Lt. Governor. Thomas Stith would have been a good bet against Beverly Purdue. But, in any case, Snyder will be sight better than her too, but it will take coattails from Bush, Burr and Ballantine to sweep him in.

Now, maybe a state that is a sure thing for Republican presidents and better than 50% in electing Republicann senators can finally get some state level candidates elected by looking forward.

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