>> THIS IS NC SPIN, AN
UNREHEARSED DISCUSSION ON

ISSUES OF INTEREST TO NORTH
CAROLINIANS. NOW, HERE'S

YOUR MODERATOR, TOM CAMPBELL.

>> THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN THIS
WEEK'S NC SPIN. A RECORD

SHATTERING NUMBER OF VOTERS IS
TURNING OUT TO CAST BALLOTS IN

PERSON OR BY MAIL. WHY SO MANY?

AND WHICH PARTY DOES IT BENEFIT?

WE ASK OUR PANEL TO GIVE YOU
THEIR SPIN ON THIS AND OTHER

ELECTION NEWS. AND WE GO DEEP
IN LOOKING AT LEGISLATIVE RACES

AND GIVE OUR TAKE ON WHO MIGHT
CONTROL OUR HOUSE AND SENATE

COME JANUARY. OUR PANEL THIS
WEEK INCLUDES:

ANNA BEAVON GRAVELY, THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NC FREE.

DENNIS WICKER, FORMER
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF NORTH

CAROLINA.

JOHN HOOD, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST
AND AUTHOR. AND CHRIS FITZSIMON,

DIRECTOR OF THE STATE'S
NEWSROOM. WE'LL BEGIN OUR

UNINTERRUPTED DISCUSSION AFTER
THESE BRIEF MESSAGES FROM OUR

UNDERWRITERS.

>> YOUR LIFE IS MORE FLEXIBLE
AND EFFICIENT THAN EVER. AND

YOUR ENERGY IS TOO. SEE HOW
NORTH CAROLINA'S ELECTRIC

COOPERATIVES ARE BUILDING A
BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THE RURAL

COMMUNITIES WE SERVE AT:
NC ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.COM

/BRIGHTER
>> THE BIG ISSUE IN 2020 IS

HEALTH CARE, LET'S TALK BASICS.

YOU ARE THE KEY TO YOUR OWN
PERSONAL HEALTH, BUT THERE'S

STRONG EVIDENCE THAT IF YOU
HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE

FAMILY PHYSICIAN, YOUR QUALITY
OF LIFE WILL BE BETTER. YOU'LL

LIKELY LIVE LONGER AND YOU'LL
HAVE 33% LOWER HEALTH CARE

COSTS. YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR KNOWS
YOU, HAS YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY,

AND CAN QUICKLY DIAGNOSE HEALTH
PROBLEMS. FAMILY PHYSICIANS,

YOUR TRUSTED HEALTHCARE ADVISOR
FOR LIFE.

>> LET'S BEGIN THE SPIN.

BEFORE WE GET TO THE
LEGISLATIVE RACES, THERE ARE

ELECTION DEVELOPMENTS WE NEED
TO DISCUSS. DENNIS, I WANT TO

ASK YOU WELL OVER 2.1 MILLION
VOTERS HAVE ALREADY CAST THEIR

BALLOTS EITHER IN PERSON AT
EARLY VOTING SITES OR BY MAIL,

THIS IS A RECORD NUMBER. WHY
ARE SO MANY SO MOTIVATED TO

VOTE SO EARLY?

>> TOM, THERE ARE MANY REASONS I
SUSPECT WHY PEOPLE ARE

TURNING OUT IN RECORD PACE OF
THIS ELECTION.

BUT I THINK THE MAIN ONES ARE
FIRST, THIS IS REALLY A

NATIONAL ELECTION I THINK IT'S
A REFERENDUM ON PRESIDENT

TRUMP.

NUMBER 2, THERE ARE CLEAR
CHOICES BETWEEN THE 2

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.

I THINK THAT ENERGIZES THE BASE
OF BOTH PARTIES.

3, I THINK THAT THERE'S A
CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE

REDISTRICTING GOING ON THIS
YEAR NEXT YEAR WHEN THE

LEGISLATURE MEETS THE
LEGISLATURES ACROSS THE

COUNTRY. AND 4, OF COURSE,
THERE'S THE PANDEMIC.

AND PEOPLE WANT TO BEAT
THE CROWDS COMING TO THE POLLS

ON ELECTION DAY SO THEY ARE
VOTING EARLY. SO, I

WOULD SAY THIS - HERE'S
WHAT I THINK THE DEAL IS THE

BOTTOM LINE.

USUALLY HIGH VOTER TURNOUT
IS NOT A POSITIVE FOR THE

PARTY THAT'S IN POWER.

AND SO
I THINK PEOPLE REALLY ARE

LOOKING FOR CHANGE IN
DIRECTION. WE'LL SEE.

>> A.B., 80% OF THE VOTE WILL
BE IN - IT WILL BE IN

THE BARN, SO TO SPEAK BY
ELECTION DAY. DOES THIS MEAN YOU

THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
GET ELECTION RETURNS

NOVEMBER 3RD?

>> IT DEFINITELY INCREASES THE
LIKELIHOOD OF US GETTING FULL

RESULTS THAT NIGHT. MY BIG
CONCERN AND THE THING THAT I

THINK IS GOING TO REALLY HOLD
THINGS UP IS THE LITIGATION

AROUND THE RESULTS IN THESE
ELECTIONS.

>> OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE VOTED
WE NOW HAVE SOME DEMOGRAPHIC

INFORMATION. 42% OF THEM ARE
DEMOCRATS, 29% OF THEM ARE

REPUBLICANS, 29% ARE
UNAFFILIATED. WOMEN MAKE UP 53%

OF THOSE CASTING EARLY VOTES,
AND BLACKS 21%. DO THESE

STATISTICS SWAY YOU ONE WAY OR
THE OTHER AS TO WHAT THE

OUTCOME MIGHT BE?

>> WELL, I MEAN I DO THINK I
AGREE WITH DENNIS A LITTLE BIT,

I THINK IT FEELS A LITTLE BIT
LIKE THIS IS A DEMOCRATIC

ENTHUSIASM, MAYBE A LITTLE
HIGHER. BUT REMEMBER MORE

DEMOCRATS ARE LIKELY TO VOTE
EARLY AND VOTE ABSENTEE THAN

REPUBLICANS.

THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTE IS A
LITTLE HIGHER, I THINK THAN

THAN YOU KNOW PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE
EXPECTED BUT MAYBE WE'LL SEE

WHAT THE OVERALL PERCENTAGE IS
WHEN ALL THE VOTES ARE TALLIED

I DO THINK IT'S FASCINATING
THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE

PRETTY SOON GOING TO HAVE
OVER 50% OF THE ELIGIBLE VOTERS

IN NORTH CAROLINA, NOT -
I MEAN REGISTERED VOTERS

ACTUALLY VOTE EARLY. SO IT'S
SORT OF ASTOUNDING. I THINK THE

PANDEMIC PLAYS A BIG ROLE
IN THIS. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE

CONCERNED, THE CASES ARE STILL
GOING UP, THEY'RE WORRIED THAT

THE CLOSER WE GET. SO IT'S A
FASCINATING ELECTION YEAR.

I DO THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE
ENTHUSIASM ON ONE SIDE HOWEVER.

>> JOHN, WE TALK ABOUT THIS
EVERY WEEK. BUT THERE'S MORE

NEWS THIS WEEK. SOME 10,000 OF
THESE BALLOTS ARE WHAT THEY

CALLED SOILED BALLOTS, MEANING
THEY DON'T HAVE WITNESS

SIGNATURES OR SOME OTHER
IMPERFECTION. IS THERE GOING TO

BE ANY REDRESS FOR THESE PEOPLE
WITH THE SPOILED BALLOTS?

CAN WE GET THE BALLOTS, NEW
BALLOTS OUT TO THEM AND BACK IN

TIME FOR NOVEMBER 3RD?

>> YES, THIS THIS ISSUE HAS NOW
BEEN RESOLVED, IT'S NO LONGER

BEING LITIGATED THERE'S A FULL
AGREEMENT ON ALL PARTIES.

THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE
WITNESS SIGNATURES -

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE GOING
TO HAVE TO CAST A NEW BALLOT.

BUT THERE'S TIME TO DO THAT, AND
THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS

REACHING OUT TO THEM. AND THEN
FOR OTHER KINDS OF MINOR

PROBLEMS INFORMATION ON THE
WRONG LINE, THERE IS AN

ATTESTATION SOLUTION. LET ME
JUST SAY, REAL QUICK, ABOUT THE

CURRENT EARLY VOTE NUMBERS.

I COULDN'T DISAGREE MORE WITH
CHRIS ABOUT WHAT THEY MEAN.

I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY MEAN THE
REPUBLICANS ARE DOING GREAT,

BUT IT CERTAINLY IS NOT GOOD
FOR THE DEMOCRATS. THEY'RE DOWN

FROM 4 YEARS AGO, THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN PERCENTAGE IS

LOWER THAN IT WAS 4 YEARS AGO.

NOW, THERE ARE SOME REASONS TO
THINK THE REPUBLICANS SORT OF

EARLY ENTHUSIASM OR
SATISFACTION WITH THESE NUMBERS

IS A BIT PREMATURE. BUT
DEMOCRATS DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT

THESE NUMBERS THEY THEY LOOK A
LITTLE SCARY RIGHT NOW.

>> DENNIS, LET'S LOOK AT THAT
SENATE RACE. IT'S THE MOST

EXPENSIVE US SENATE RACE
IN THE COUNTRY, SOMETHING

LIKE OVER $340 MILLION.

HAS BEEN SPENT ON THIS RACE.

THE RACE IS STILL CLOSE,
ACCORDING TO POLLS. THE LATEST

ECU POLL WAS OUT THIS WEEK, AND
IT SHOWED A VERY CLOSE RACE.

CUNNINGHAM IS LEADING SLIGHTLY.

BUT THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE
FAR RIGHT REPUBLICANS WHO JUST

AREN'T HAPPY WITH TOM TILLIS.

IS THAT GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE
AN IMPACT. AS I TALK TO MY

REPUBLICAN FRIENDS, THEY
JUST QUITE DON'T UNDERSTAND

WHY THE FAR RIGHT DOES NOT
EMBRACE THOM TILLIS IN THIS

ELECTION. IS VERY OBVIOUS
TO THEM THAT THEY HAVE NOT.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP THE
SENATOR. AND DESPITE THE

SCANDAL THAT CUNNINGHAM
HAS FACED, HE IS APPARENTLY

SURVIVING THAT SO FAR.

IT'S A VERY STRANGE
ELECTION AND THE MONEY THEY

HAVE RAISED AS MIND BLOWING
TO ME.

>> IT IS, INDEED. A.B., THIS IS
A VERY VERY LONG BALLOT. WHEN I

WENT TO VOTE, I HEARD PEOPLE
SAYING THEY JUST ZIPPED IN AND

ZIPPED OUT. I DON'T KNOW HOW
THEY DID IT BECAUSE IT'S A

PRETTY LONG BALLOT. ARE VOTERS
GOING TO GET ALL THE WAY TO THE

END ARE WE GOING TO HAVE VOTER
FATIGUE AND THEY'RE JUST GOING

TO FORGET SOME OF THE THE RACES
DOWN AT THE BOTTOM?

>> WELL, I KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE
AT THE END OF THE BALLOT ARE

VERY MUCH HOPING THAT VOTERS
GET TO THE END AND CAN CAST

THEIR VOTE FOR THOSE
INDIVIDUALS. I THINK THERE'S A

LOT OF ENERGY AROUND NOT JUST
THE TOP OF THE TICKET, BUT ALSO

THOSE AT THE BOTTOM
SPECIFICALLY THE JUDGES.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT MORE
ADVERTISING FOR JUDGES AND

THEY'RE ON THE BALLOT FOR THE
FIRST TIME, FOR MANY OF THESE

CANDIDATES, FIRST TIME WITH A
PARTY AFFILIATION.

>> LET'S MOVE THE LEGISLATIVE
RACES. ALL 120 SEATS IN THE

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ARE UP
FOR ELECTION, CURRENTLY THEY'RE

65 REPUBLICANS, 55 DEMOCRATS.

DEMOCRATS WOULD LIKE TO TAKE
CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, BUT AT

THE MINIMUM THEY WANT TO KEEP
THE VETO PROOF MAJORITY THEY

NOW HOLD. LET ME JUST EXPLAIN
TO OUR VIEWERS THAT THIS

PANEL HAS WORKED COOPERATIVELY
TOGETHER THROUGHOUT THE WEEK,

NOT FROM A STANDPOINT OF
TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUAL

CANDIDATES IN INDIVIDUAL RACES,
BUT TO TRY TO HELP IDENTIFY

THOSE RACES WE FELT LIKE WERE
MOST SIGNIFICANT, AND MIGHT HAVE

SOME ULTIMATE IMPACT OVER THE
ELECTION. NO WAY WE CAN COVER

120 OF THEM. BUT WE DO WANT TO
GET SOME OF THE ONES THAT WE

THINK MAY BE FAIRLY
SIGNIFICANT. LET'S GET STARTED

ON THAT. CHRIS FITZSIMON, LET'S
GO UP TO NORTHEASTERN NORTH

CAROLINA DISTRICT 1. ED
GOODWIN IS FACING EMILY BUNCH

NICHOLSON, THE DEMOCRAT.

GOODWIN IS A REPUBLICAN.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THAT RACE
HOW DO WE HANDICAP?

>> IT'S AN INTERESTING RACE.

ED GOODWIN IS
A FIRST TERM INCUMBENT

WHICH ALWAYS - THAT'S WHEN
YOU'RE THE MOST VULNERABLE AS A

AS A LEGISLATOR RUNNING,
IT'S A RETIRED MILITARY PERSON

RUNNING AGAINST EMILY BUNCH
NICHOLSON, HER FIRST EFFORT

RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

A MOTHER OF 3. THE
NORTHEAST IS THE PLACE, WE'LL

TALK ABOUT THAT LATER IN THE
SENATE RACE, THE DEMOCRATS

BELIEVE THEY CAN POSSIBLY GAIN
BOTH IN THE HOUSE AND THE

SENATE. ONE OF THE INTERESTING
AREAS OF THE STATE WE HAVE TO

WATCH ON ELECTION NIGHT.

>> FOR MANY YEARS, IT WAS SOLID
DEMOCRATIC, THEN IT WENT SOLID

REPUBLICAN. ANNA BEAVON, LET'S
MOVE THE PITT COUNTY. THIS IS AN

INTERESTING RACE. THIS IS GREG
MURPHY'S OLD SEAT. BRIAN FARKAS

IS FACING PERRON JONES. PERRON
WAS APPOINTED TO REPLACE GREG

WHEN HE RAN FOR THE CONGRESS.

THIS SEAT NOW LEANS, SORT OF,
DEMOCRATIC, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT DOES. ONE THING THAT I
FIND REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT

THIS RACE IS THAT - THIS
IS CERTAINLY A BELLWETHER RACE

IN THE HOUSE. AND THERE'S A LOT
OF SUPPORT AND ENERGY FROM THE

HOUSE CAUCUS FOR DOCTOR PERRON
JONES TO HOLD THIS SEAT,

HE'S BEEN REALLY INSTRUMENTAL
AND ALL OF THE COVID

CONVERSATIONS AT A STATE
LEVEL. BUT BRIAN FARKAS IS THE

CANDIDATE THAT HAS BEEN BACKED
HEAVILY BY NEARLY EVERY GROUP

ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FIGHT.

>> JOHN LET'S MOVE NOW TO
DISTRICT 12, THAT'S LENOIR IN

PITT COUNTY. WE'RE STILL IN THAT
AREA. CHRIS HUMPHREY IS THE

INCUMBENT RUNNING AGAINST
VIRGINIA COX DAUGHTRY. THIS IS

A RELATIVELY NEWLY REDRAWN
DISTRICT. IS IT STILL LEANING

REPUBLICAN?

>> YES, I'D BE VERY SURPRISED
IF THIS PARTICULAR RACE

GOES DEMOCRATIC.

I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT
STATEWIDE THE SHARE AND NOT THE

TOTAL VOTES, BUT THE SHARE OF
THE VOTES CAST BY DEMOCRATS

EARLY IS ACTUALLY LOWER THAN
4 YEARS AGO. THE REPUBLICAN

NUMBERS NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN
4 YEARS AGO. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT

PARTICULAR LOCATIONS AND I
THINK THIS IS ONE OF THEM.

I THINK REPUBLICANS ARE
REASONABLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT

THIS RACE.

>> DENNIS LET'S MOVE OVER
TO DISTRICT 24, THAT'S

IN WILSON COUNTY.

LINDA COOPER SUGGS IS RUNNING
AGAINST MICK RANKIN.

AND THIS WAS THE FORMER
BUTTERFIELD SEAT. WHAT DO WE

KNOW ABOUT THAT ONE, 24?

>> WELL, I THINK THIS SEAT IS
MORE OF AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN

DISTRICT AND THEN NOT.

AND OF COURSE BUTTERFIELD WAS
AFRICAN-AMERICAN. I WOULD -

I WOULD EDGE THIS RACE
TOWARD THE D, THE DEMOCRATS.

BECAUSE OF THAT FACTOR.

>> ALL RIGHT. A.B.,
IN WAKE COUNTY, INTERESTING

RACE. SYDNEY BATCH THE
DEMOCRAT IS RUNNING AGAINST

ERIN - I THINK I'M PRONOUNCING
THIS CORRECT - PARÉÉ, THE

REPUBLICAN. HANDICAP THAT ONE.

>> YEAH, ERIN PARÉÉ IS A
REALLY STRONG CANDIDATE FOR

REPUBLICANS TO PUT UP IN THIS
DISTRICT. AND HONESTLY I THINK

SHE'S THE BEST CHANCE THAT
REPUBLICANS HAVE FOR HAVING

A SEAT IN WAKE COUNTY. AND AN
INTERESTING FACTOID ON THIS,

THAT SYDNEY BATCH IS ON THE
BALLOT AS "MISS" SYDNEY BATCH.

I THINK THAT'S LARGELY...

>> [LAUGHS]
>> ...LARGELY THAT

IT'S A CLEAR COMPETITION
BETWEEN 2 FEMALES.

>> INTERESTING. I DID NOT
REALIZE THAT, BECAUSE I'M NOT IN

THAT DISTRICT. CHRIS LET'S MOVE
OVER TO DISTRICT 43 IN

CUMBERLAND COUNTY. SOME
INTERESTING RACES IN CUMBERLAND

COUNTY. KIMBERLY HARDY IS
RUNNING AGAINST DIANE WHEATLEY.

THIS IS A REDRAWN DISTRICT,
SO HOW IS IT LEANING?

>> IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

THERE'S NO INCUMBENT IN THE
RACE BECAUSE ELMER FLOYD WAS A

DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT, AND
KIMBERLY HARDY, WHO IS A

PROFESSOR AT FAYETTEVILLE STATE
ACTUALLY BEAT REPRESENTATIVE

FLOYD IN THE DEMOCRATIC
PRIMARY. SO IT'S INTERESTING

THAT THAT IS HAPPENING.

RUNNING AGAINST DIANE
WHEATLEY WHO HAS RUN FOR THE

LEGISLATURE BEFORE AS THE
REPUBLICAN. CUMBERLAND COUNTY IS

ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE AREAS WE'LL
HEAR AGAIN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT

SENATE RACES. IF THERE'S 5 OR
6, 7, FOR THE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS

OF FOCUS, CUMBERLAND COUNTY IS
CLEARLY ONE. I DO BELIEVE THE

DEMOCRATS HAVE AN EDGE HERE BUT
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE

INTERESTING CUMBERLAND COUNTY
RACES, WE'LL KEEP TALKING

ABOUT.

>> JOHN WE'RE GONNA STAY IN
CUMBERLAND. DISTRICT 45, JOHN

SZOKA IS RUNNING AGAINST

FRANCES VINELL JACKSON.

WE UNDERSTAND THIS DISTRICT'S
IN PLAY.

>> IT IS IN PLAY. JACKSON IS -
TEACHES AT FAYETTEVILL TECH.

SZOKA, OF COURSE, IS THE
INCUMBENT, A RETIRED COLONEL

FROM THE U.S. ARMY. CHRIS IS
RIGHT ABOUT CUMBERLAND COUNTY

BEING IMPORTANT AND AS I SAID
EARLIER IF YOU - IT'S A LITTLE

DANGEROUS TO TAKE A LOT OF
PREDICTIVE VALUE FROM EARLY

VOTES THAT MAY BE DIFFERENT
THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF PATTERNS.

BUT CUMBERLAND IS UNLIKE SAY
WAKE AND MECKLENBURG WHICH ARE

LOOKING A LITTLE DEMOCRATIC
THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF THE EARLY

VOTE. CUMBERLAND MAYBE A LITTLE
BIT OVER PERFORMING FOR THE

REPUBLICANS WE'LL SEE.

>> ALL RIGHT. CHRIS, AGAIN.

DOWN IN ROBESON COUNTY. DISTRICT
47. CHARLES GRAHAM THE

DEMOCRAT RUNNING AGAINST
OLIVIA OXENDINE. THIS

IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE REDRAWN
DISTRICTS LEANS DEMOCRATIC IS

THAT THE WAY IT'S GOING TO TURN
OUT?

>> I THINK WHAT - LEADING
DEMOCRATIC AND HAVING A

DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT MAKES IT A
PROBABLY AN EDGE FOR THE

DEMOCRATS. OLIVIA OXENDINE
IS A REPUBLICAN ACTIVIST FORMER

MEMBER OF THE STATE BOARD OF
ELECTIONS A LITTLE BIT OF A

CLOUD AROUND HER PERFORMANCE
THERE. VERY CLOSELY CONTESTED

>> RACE ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE
OVER TO DISTRICT 59.

GUILFORD COUNTY.

WE'VE GOT INCUMBENT JON
HARDISTER RUNNING AGAINST

NICOLE QUICK. ANNA BEAVON
HANDICAP THAT ONE.

>> YEAH, THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF
THOSE RACES VERY SIMILAR TO THE

PERRON JONES AND BRIAN FARKAS
RACE. THIS IS ALSO A BELLWETHER

FOR THE HOUSE. JOHN HARDISTER
IS IN THE FIGHT OF HIS LIFE

TRYING TO HOLD THIS SEAT. NICOLE
QUICK IS A STRONG CANDIDATE

THAT IS HEAVILY BACKED BY
DEMOCRATS.

>> DENNIS, LET'S MOVE OVER INTO
YOUR PART OF THE WORLD,

MONTGOMERY, RICHMOND, AND STANLY
COUNTIES DOWN IN THE

SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE STATE.

DISTRICT 66, WE'VE GOT SCOTT
BREWER THE INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT

AGAINST BEN MOSS. THIS IS
KEN GOODMAN'S OLD SEAT.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, SCOTT BREWER
HAS A HARD CAMPAIGNER.

A FORMER JUDGE DISTRICT COURT
JUDGE THERE, ATTORNEY OF COURSE.

WELL RESPECTED AN INCUMBANT.

BUT OF COURSE BEN MOSS
IS SOMEONE WHO

THE REPUBLICANS BELIEVE HAVE A
GOOD CHANCE OF TAKING THE SEAT

AND THEN FLIPPING IT.

I WOULD SAY IT'S A TOSS UP, WITH
A SLIGHT EDGE, MAYBE TO BREWER.

>> DISTRICT 74 IS WHERE WE GO
NEXT THAT'S FORSYTH COUNTY.

JEFF ZENGER IS RUNNING AGAINST
DAN BESSE. THIS IS AN OPEN SEAT.

CHRIS, HANDICAP IT.

>> WELL, DAN BESSE, A WINSTON
SALEM COUNCILMAN, HAS RUN

FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BEFORE
ACTUALLY ONE OF THE HANDFUL OF

CANDIDATES ENDORSED BY PRESIDENT
OBAMA TO HELP I THINK THAT

PROBABLY HELPED HIS TURN OUT.

JEFF ZENGER IS A
REPUBLICAN FORMER LOCAL

OFFICIAL. SORT OF ON THE I THINK
MORE CONSERVATIVE OR FAR RIGHT

SIDE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM.

THIS IS A FASCINATING RACE.

DO I THINK - YOU REALLY HAVE
DISTINCT DIFFERENT IDEOLOGIES

HERE MAYBE MORE SO THAN SOME OF
THE RACES.

>> JOHN, WE'LL MOVE OVER TO
CABARRUS COUNTY NOW. DISTRICT 82

KRISTIN BAKER IS RUNNING
AGAINST AIMY STEELE. THIS

WAS THE LINDA JOHNSON SEAT AND
BAKER WAS APPOINTED AFTER THE

PRIMARY ELECTIONS. HANDICAP IT.

>> BAKER IS THE QUOTE INCUMBENT
THOUGH NOT REALLY. SHE'S A

DOCTOR SHE'S RUNNING AGAINST A
FORMER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.

THIS IS A RACE THAT I WOULD BE
SURPRISED IF THE REPUBLICANS

LOSE.

CABARRUS COUNTY, WHILE IT'S
CERTAINLY HAS NOT BEEN - IT'S

BEEN TRENDING A LITTLE BLUE
RECENTLY IT IS STILL A

REPUBLICAN LEANING AREA.

SO I THINK THAT THEY WILL WIN
THIS SEAT. BUT IF THIS SEAT

GOES DOWN, FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU'RE
WATCHING THE ELECTION RESULTS

ON TUESDAY NIGHT ON ELECTION
DAY OF THE 3RD, AND THIS RACE

LOOKS REALLY CLOSE, THEN THAT
WILL BE A BELLWETHER.

>> INTERESTING. LET ME STAY
WITH YOU ON HOUSE DISTRICT 93

WE GET UP TO ASHE AND WATAUGA
COUNTY. RAY RUSSELL IS RUNNING

AGAINST RAY PICKETT. HANDICAP
THAT ONE.

>> PICKETT I THINK IS A GOOD
RECRUIT FOR THE REPUBLICANS,

HE'S A FORMER LOCAL OFFICIAL IN
BLOWING ROCK. A BUSINESS OWNER.

THIS IS A DISTRICT THAT HAS
BEEN COMPETITIVE MANY TIMES IN

THE PAST. AS I'VE SAID EARLIER
THE EARLY VOTE IF WE'RE GOING

TO DRAW ANY CONCLUSIONS, WE
SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT THAT THE

MORE URBAN TYPES OF COUNTIES
TEND TO BE DOING VERY BLUE AND

THE SOME OF THE OTHER PLACES A
LITTLE REDDER. THIS IS ONE OF

THE PLACES WHERE THE
REPUBLICANS HAVE SOME EARLY

OPTIMISM THAT MAYBE IN WATAUGA
COUNTY REPUBLICANS WILL BE A

OVER PERFORMING.

>> A.B., I GOT A COUPLE OF
MECKLENBURG COUNTYIES FOR YOU

LET'S START WITH 98. WE'VE GOT
CHRISTY CLARK RUNNING AGAINST

JOHN BRADFORD. CHRISTY'S THE
INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT THERE. IS IT

GOING TO STAY BLUE?

>> YEAH, THIS IS ONE OF THE THE
2 RACES THAT WE'RE AT THIS ONE

IN THE RACE THAT I'M GOING TO
TALK ABOUT NEXT AND MECKLENBURG

WHERE WE HAVE INCUMBENTS WHO
HAVE

ARE TRYING TO HOLD THEIR SEAT
AGAINST CANDIDATES WHO LOST IN

'18. AND JOHN BRADFORD IS IS ONE
OF THOSE. I DEFINITELY THINK

THAT THERE'S A MASSIVE
FUNDRAISING ADVANTAGE FOR THE

DEMOCRATS. AND DESPITE THE
REPUBLICAN LEAN OF THE DISTRICT

IT WILL BE A DEMOCRAT WIN.

>> GOT RACHEL HUNT AND
ROBERT BRAWLEY AT

103 DISTRICT.

BRAWLEY OBVIOUSLY HAS
LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE, RACHEL

HUNT HAS A PEDIGREE. SHE GOING
TO KEEP THAT SEAT?

>> I JUST LIKE THE PREVIOUS
RACE, I THINK THIS IS ALSO

GOING TO BE A RACE THAT GOES
TOWARD TOWARD DEMOCRATS AND

SHE'S ABLE TO HOLD IT WITH
BRAWLEY COMING BACK TRYING TO

TO RECLAIM HIS SEAT.

>> JOHN, STAYING IN MECKLENBURG
COUNTY AND SEAT NUMBER 105

WE'VE GOT WESLEY HARRIS RUNNING
AGAINST AMY BYNUM. WHAT CAN YOU

TELL US?

>> THAT SEAT WILL ALMOST
CERTAINLY STAY WITH THE

DEMOCRATS. IN FACT, THE FIRST
- THE SEATS THAT ANNA

BEAVON TALKED ABOUT ARE
MORE COMPETITIVE.

>> AND DENNIS OVER IN THE FAR
WESTERN PART OF THE STATE

DISTRICT 119. THIS IS BEEN
AN OFF AGAIN ON AGAIN CONTEST

FOR YEARS IN HEYWOOD AND
JACKSON COUNTY, JOE SAM QUEEN

AND MIKE CLAMPETT, JOE SAM
QUEEN IS THE CURRENT INCUMBENT.

IS GONNA HOLD HIS SEAT?

>> GROUNDHOG DAY TOM.

[LAUGHTER]
THEY GO BACK AND FORTH ALL THE

TIME. I WOULD SAY THAT IN
THAT AREA PEOPLE I'VE TALKED

TO UP THERE IN THOSE MOUNTAINS.

THEY'RE GOING TO STICK WITH
JOE SAM THIS TIME. I THINK -

I THINK I'D GIVE HIM THE EDGE
IN THAT RACE.

>> ALL RIGHT I WANT TO GO
AROUND VERY QUICKLY WHO'S

GOING TO HOLD CONTROL OF THE
HOUSE. DON'T NEED A LENGTHY

DISCUSSION HERE. WHO'S GOING TO
CONTROL THE HOUSE? JOHN?

>> I BELIEVE THE REPUBLICANS
WILL END UP STILL IN THE

MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE
>> CHRIS?

>> I THINK BY VERY NARROW
MARGINS, MOST LIKELY

REPUBLICANS. BUT THAT DOESN'T
MEAN THEY'LL HAVE THE

SPEAKERSHIP. I THINK THERE'S ALL
SORTS OF CRAZINESS HAPPENING

BEHIND THE SCENES.

>> ALL RIGHT. DENNIS?

>> I'M GONNA STICK MY NECK OUT A
LITTLE BIT AND PULL FOR THE

DEMOCRATS ON THIS ONE,
SLIGHTLY.

>> ANNA BEAVON?

>> I THINK IT'LL BE REPUBLICANS
WITH 62 SEATS.

ALL RIGHT LET'S
MOVE OVER TO THE SENATE.

WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THE UPPER
CHAMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE.

CURRENTLY SENATE HAS 29-21 SPLIT
WITH REPUBLICANS IN CONTROL.

DEMOCRATS HAVE TARGETED 8
DISTRICTS TO WIN A MAJORITY.

THEY NEED 5 SEATS TO TAKE
CONTROL OR 4 IF THE LIEUTENANT

GOVERNOR IS A DEMOCRAT. LET'S
TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, JOHN,

BEGINNING IN THE SENATE
DISTRICT 1, WHICH IS UP IN THE

NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE STATE.

BOB STEINBURG IS RUNNING FOR
REELECTION AGAINST TESS JUDGE.

I UNDERSTAND POLLS SHOW JUDGE
MIGHT BE AHEAD.

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHOSE
POLLS. TESS JUDGE IS, I THINK,

A PRETTY GOOD RECRUIT FOR THE
DEMOCRATS UP FOR THIS THIS

RACE, SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN
CIVIC AFFAIRS IN THE NORTHEAST,

QUITE A BIT. STEINBURG IS A
FORMER HOUSE MEMBER TRYING TO

HOLD THIS A SENATE SEAT.

THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS AS YOU
MENTIONED EARLIER TOM, EVEN

THOUGH IT IS QUOTE A RURAL
AREA. IT'S A LITTLE BIT

DIFFERENT TERMS OF DEMOGRAPHICS
AND THE NUMBER OF NON NATIVE

VOTERS. AND SO IT'S AN AREA,
THE REPUBLICANS HAVE SOME

CONCERN BUT STILL A GOOD CHANCE
OF PULLING IT OUT.

>> THERE ARE SOME WHO SAY NEW
HANOVER COUNTY MIGHT BE THE

BELLWETHER COUNTY IN NORTH
CAROLINA. SO FAR AS WHO

CONTROLS THE VOTE IN NORTH
CAROLINA IN THE STATE,

LET'S MOVE TO SENATE
DISTRICT 9. HARPER PETERSON

IS RUNNING AGAINST
MIKE LEE. HARPER, THE INCUMBENT

THERE. DENNIS, WHAT CAN YOU TELL
US.

>> WELL YOU SAID IT BEST, TOM.

THIS IS A BELLWETHER RACE. WITH
HARPER BEING THE INCUMBANT.

YOU MIGHT HAVE REMEMBERED THAT
THERE WAS A HOSPITAL ISSUE

THERE, ABOUT TO SALE OF A
HOSPITAL. PETERSON WAS IN THE

MIDDLE OF THAT. SO I, YOU KNOW,
I THINK THAT'S STILL AN

EDGE TO HARPER PETERSON
IN MY OPINION, GIVEN

THAT DISTRICT'S DEMOGRAPHICS.

>> ALL RIGHT CHRIS, LET'S MOVE
OVER TO SENATE DISTRICT 11,

JOHNSON NASH COUNTY
WE'VE GOT LISA STONE BARNS

MOVING OVER FROM THE HOUSE
RUNNING AGAINST ALLEN WELLENS

WHO WAS FORMALLY A SENATOR.

THIS IS AN OPEN SEAT, HOWEVER.

I UNDERSTAND IT'S FAIRLY CLOSE.

>> WELL, IT IS CLOSE. BUT
I THINK THE DEMOCRATS REALLY

WERE HOPING FOR THIS AND THEY
STILL MIGHT GET IT. REPUBLICANS

WERE A LITTLE PANICED, ARE
SPENDING A LITTLE MORE IN THIS

RACE GIVEN ITS SIZE -
AND ITS SLIGHTLY RURAL OR

SUBURBAN NATURE. THIS TO
ME, IF THE DEMOCRATS WIN THIS

ONE, THEY WIN CONTROLM OF THE
SENATE. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY

WILL WIN IT WITHOUT IT, BUT
THIS IS A VERY KEY RACE.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET FRANKLIN
WAYNE COUNTY ANNA BEAVON.

WE'VE GOT LARRY NORMAN
RUNNING AGAINST SARAH CRAWFORD.

THIS IS THE OLD JOHNNY MACK
ALEXANDER SEAT. IT'S IT SEEMS TO

BE TENDING BLUE,
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> YEAH, THIS IS ONE OF THE
RACES. ONE OF THE DISTRICTS

THAT HAS BEEN LEANING
MORE TOWARD DEMOCRAT THROUGH

THE PROCESS OF REDISTRICTING
AND SARAH CRAWFORD IS A VERY

LIKELY CANDIDATE TO WIN THIS.

AND HAS RUN AGAIN FROM HER
RACE IN '14 WHERE SHE WAS THE

MOST EXPENSIVE SENATE RACE
IN THE STATE.

>> ALL RIGHT OVER TO THE SENATE
19, JOHN. THIS IS CUMBERLAND

COUNTY AGAIN, INTERESTING
POLITICS DOWN THERE. WESLEY

MEREDITH IS RUNNING AGAINST
KIRK DeVIERE - ALWAYS

MISPRONOUNCE THAT NAME - THE
DEMOCRAT INCUMBENT,

HOW'S IT LOOK?

>> DeVIERE IS A FORMER MEMBER
OF THE FAYETTEVILLE CITY COUNCIL

HE'S DEFENDING HIS SEAT. THIS IS
A REMATCH FROM 2 YEARS AGO. AND

AS I SAID EARLIER, CUMBERLAND
COUNTY, AND CHRIS DID TOO.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY IS SORT OF
MORE IMPORTANT THIS YEAR THAN

ALMOST ANY OTHER COUNTIES AS FAR
AS LEGISLATIVE CONTROL. THIS IS

AN AREA WHERE THE REPUBLICANS
HAVE HOPES THAT THEY CAN REGAIN

A SEAT.

>> INTERESTING. DISTRICT 24,
ALAMANCE AND GUILFORD COUNTY.

WE'VE GOT AMY GALEY AGAINST
JD WOOTEN. CHRIS, I UNDERSTAND

THIS RACE IS CLOSE.

>> IT IS CLOSE. THIS IS ANOTHER
ONE OF THOSE SORT OF

TRADITIONALLY REPUBLICAN AREAS
THAT'S BECOME MORE DEMOCRATIC.

THE DEMOCRATS NEED THIS ONE,
I THINK. THEY'RE GOING - THEY

HAVE 2. I THINK THEY'RE
COUNTING ON - A COUPLE MORE

THEY THINK ARE CLOSE. AND THEN
THIS ONE IS SORT OF THE NEXT

TIER. IF IT'S A BIG DEMOCRATIC
YEAR, IT'S NOT OUT OF THE

REALM OF POSSIBILITY,
BUT CLEARLY IT BEGINS WITH A

SLIGHT REPUBLICAN EDGE I THINK.

>> ALL RIGHT DENNIS. WE GO UP TO
31 NOW WHICH IS FORSYTH AND

DAVIE COUNTY. JOYCE KRAWIEC IS
RUNNING AGAINST TERRI LEGRAND.

A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL LIKE
THIS COULD BE A BELLWETHER RACE

IN THIS SENATE CONTEST.

>> IT IS A BELLWETHER RACE.

MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS I TALK
TO, DO FEEL LIKE KRAWIEC HAS

AN UPHILL BATTLE ON THIS ONE
TIME, EVEN THOUGH SHE'S THE

INCUMBENT. THEY'RE TELLING
ME THAT THEY THINK THEIR

OPPONENT'S GOING WIN, THAT
LEGRAND'S GOING TO BE THERE.

>> OKAY, ANNA BEAVON, LET'S GO
NOW TO MECKLENBURG COUNTY AGAIN

INTERESTING RACES THERE WE'VE
GOT SONIA NICHOLS RUNNING

AGAINST JEFF JACKSON AND SHE'S
GIVEN HIM A RUN FOR THE MONEY.

>> YEAH, THIS IS ONE OF THE
MOST INTERESTING RACES I THINK

BECAUSE THIS PREVIOUS DISTRICT
WITH JEFF JACKSON WAS A STRONG

DEMOCRAT DISTRICT AND THROUGH
REDISTRICTING HAS BECOME A MORE

COMPETITIVE RACE. AND SONIA
NICHOLS IS PROBABLY THE BEST

CANDIDATE THEY COULD HAVE PUT
UP AGAINST - REPUBLICANS COULD

PUT UP AGAINST JEFF JACKSON.

>> WEALTHY, VERY ACTIVE IN THE
COMMUNITY. OVER TO 39 SENATE

DISTRICT. JOSHUA NIDAY
IS RUNNING AGAINST

THE DEANDREA SALVADOR.

THIS IS THE OLD DAN BISHOP SEAT.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S
LEANING D, DENNIS.

>> THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT SALVADOR
BUT I KNOW THIS IS A VERY

CONTESTED RACE. AND WE'LL SEE
HOW IT COMES OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT I WANT TO
GO AROUND THE HORN AGAIN.

THERE IS SPECULATION THAT IF
ONE OF THE HOUSES IS GOING TO

FLIP, IT'S GOING TO BE THE
SENATE. TELL ME WHO'S GOING TO

CONTROL THE SENATE AT THE END
OF NOVEMBER 3RD. JOHN?

>> I STILL THINK THE
REPUBLICANS WILL END UP WITH A

SLIGHT EDGE. THE DEMOCRATS ARE
ALL ARE CERTAINLY GOING TO PICK

UP 2 SEATS. WE'VE ALREADY
MENTIONED BOTH OF THOSE SEATS. I

THINK IT'S A SLIGHT EDGE.

>> ALL RIGHT. CHRIS?

>> I THINK IT'LL EITHER BE 26-24
DEMOCRATS OR MAYBE MOST LIKELY

25-25 WITH THE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR CASTING THAT

DECIDING VOTE.

>> COULD BE INTERESTING. DENNIS?

>> I SAY 25-25 WITH THE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CASTING -

>> WOW. ANNA BEAVON?

>> I DEFINITELY THINK
REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO HOLD,

THIS BUT IT'S GOING TO BE
VERY SLIM MARGIN.

>> THESE LEGISLATIVE RACES
ARE IMPORTANT AND THEY'RE

GOING TO BE INTERESTING AND I
HOPE YOU FOLLOWED THEM. WELL

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