>> 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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>> 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
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