Unofficial May 2014 Primary Results for Macon County Sheriff, County Commissioner District I and Register of Deeds

**edit 12:13am** I forgot to add the voter turnout data. 5,005 of the 24,980 registered voters participated in this primary. That makes the voter turnout 20.04%. -Bobby

I only followed three races in Macon County tonight while in the Board of Elections office in the basement of the Macon County Courthouse tonight and here are the results expressed in three precinct maps, then the numbers by precinct:



Robbie Holland cruised to a very easy re-election, garnering over 85% of the vote.

Robbie Holland 2,844...85.74%
Bryan Carpenter 473...14.26%



Commissioner Jim Tate received over 60% of the vote and will face Michael Rogers in November.

Jim Tate     1,999...61.32%
John Shearl 1,261...38.68%



Register of Deeds Todd Raby received over 70% of the votes in the primary today and will face Jamie Cochran in November.

Nicki Tallent     361...22.69%

Todd Raby    1,123...70.58%

Kenneth Blaine 107.....6.73%

Here are the results by precinct in the order in which they came in:



8:03 pm ELLIJAY


REGISTER OF DEEDS 

Nicki Tallent 25...30.12%
Todd Raby 56...67.47%
Kenneth Blaine 2...2.41%

SHERIFF

Robbie Holland 142...88.20%
Bryan Carpenter 19...11.80%

DISTRICT I COMMISSIONER

Jim Tate 100...64.10%
John Shearl 56...35.90%


8:30 pm NORTH FRANKLIN

REGISTER OF DEEDS 

Nicki Tallent 15...17.24%
Todd Raby 66...75.86%
Kenneth Blaine 6...6.90%

SHERIFF

Robbie Holland 138...87.90%
Bryan Carpenter 19...12.10%

DISTRICT I COMMISSIONER

Jim Tate 97...63.40%
John Shearl 56...36.60%


8:34 pm UNION

REGISTER OF DEEDS 

Nicki Tallent 20...25.64%
Todd Raby 52...66.67%
Kenneth Blaine 6...7.69%

SHERIFF

Robbie Holland 126...82.89%
Bryan Carpenter 26...17.11%

DISTRICT I COMMISSIONER

Jim Tate 86...58.11%
John Shearl 62...41.86%


8:40 pm SOUTH FRANKLIN

REGISTER OF DEEDS 

Nicki Tallent 13...23.21%
Todd Raby 39...69.64%
Kenneth Blaine 4...7.14%

SHERIFF

Robbie Holland 38...70.37%
Bryan Carpenter 16...29.63%

DISTRICT I COMMISSIONER

Jim Tate 32...61.54%
John Shearl 20...38.46%


8:44 pm IOTLA

REGISTER OF DEEDS 

Nicki Tallent 13...20.00%
Todd Raby 50...76.92%
Kenneth Blaine 2...3.08%

SHERIFF

Robbie Holland 83...90.22%
Bryan Carpenter 9...9.78%

DISTRICT I COMMISSIONER

Jim Tate 49...54.44%
John Shearl 41...45.56%



8:49 pm MILLSHOAL

REGISTER OF DEEDS 

Nicki Tallent 14...22.22%
Todd Raby 45...71.43%
Kenneth Blaine 4...6.35%

SHERIFF

Robbie Holland 122....82.99%
Bryan Carpenter 25...17.01%

DISTRICT I COMMISSIONER

Jim Tate 88...61.54%
John Shearl 55...38.46%



8:54 pm EAST FRANKLIN

REGISTER OF DEEDS 

Nicki Tallent 23...29.21%
Todd Raby 56...62.92%
Kenneth Blaine 7...7.87%

SHERIFF

Robbie Holland 115...83.33%
Bryan Carpenter 23...16.67%

DISTRICT I COMMISSIONER

Jim Tate 79...59.40%
John Shearl 54...40.60%


8:54 pm CARTOOGECHAYE

REGISTER OF DEEDS 

Nicki Tallent 16...22.54%
Todd Raby 49...69.01%
Kenneth Blaine 6...8.45%

SHERIFF

Robbie Holland 145...77.96%
Bryan Carpenter 41...22.04%

DISTRICT I COMMISSIONER

Jim Tate 99...54.70%
John Shearl 82...45.30%


8:58 pm FLATS

REGISTER OF DEEDS 

Nicki Tallent 4...23.53%
Todd Raby 12...70.59%
Kenneth Blaine 1...5.88%

SHERIFF

Robbie Holland 46...74.19%
Bryan Carpenter 16...25.81%

DISTRICT I COMMISSIONER

Jim Tate 37...59.68%
John Shearl 25...40.32%


9:03 pm HIGHLANDS

REGISTER OF DEEDS 

Nicki Tallent 23...26.44%
Todd Raby 56...64.37%
Kenneth Blaine 8...9.20%

SHERIFF

Robbie Holland 226...91.87%
Bryan Carpenter 20.8.13%

DISTRICT I COMMISSIONER

Jim Tate 221...81.78%
John Shearl 47...18.22%


9:05 pm SUGARFORK

REGISTER OF DEEDS 

Nicki Tallent 5...33.33%
Todd Raby 8...53.33%
Kenneth Blaine 2...13.33%

SHERIFF

Robbie Holland 64...94.12%
Bryan Carpenter 4...5.88%

DISTRICT I COMMISSIONER

Jim Tate 44...65.67%
John Shearl 23...34.33%



9:09 pm COWEE

REGISTER OF DEEDS 

Nicki Tallent 7...7.14%
Todd Raby 84...85.71%
Kenneth Blaine 7...7.14%

SHERIFF

Robbie Holland 137...85.09%
Bryan Carpenter 24...14.91%

DISTRICT I COMMISSIONER

Jim Tate 95...60.90
John Shearl 61...39.10%


9:11 pm NANTAHALA

REGISTER OF DEEDS
Nicki Tallent 7...43.75%
Todd Raby 6...37.50%
Kenneth Blaine 3...18.75%

SHERIFF

Robbie Holland 45...76.27%
Bryan Carpenter 14...23.73%

DISTRICT I COMMISSIONER

Jim Tate 32...59.26%
John Shearl 22...40.74%


9:18 pm BURNINGTOWN

REGISTER OF DEEDS
Nicki Tallent 6...24.00%
Todd Raby 18...72.00%
Kenneth Blaine 1...4.00%

SHERIFF

Robbie Holland 68...73.91%
Bryan Carpenter 24...26.09%

DISTRICT I COMMISSIONER

Jim Tate 50...56.18%
John Shearl 39...43.82%


9:44 pm SMITHBRIDGE

REGISTER OF DEEDS
Nicki Tallent 27...30.00%
Todd Raby 53...58.89%
Kenneth Blaine 10...11.11%

SHERIFF

Robbie Holland 139...79.43%
Bryan Carpenter 36...20.57%

DISTRICT I COMMISSIONER

Jim Tate 82...47.67%
John Shearl 90...52.33%

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The Last Minute Voter's Guide to Macon County Candidates

**note** This post has been changed to correct some minor spelling/grammar errors and to reflect the correct number of terms the Sheriff has served. -Bobby

If you haven't been paying attention or done your homework for tomorrow's primary election, here is some material for you to use to cram at the last minute using all the videos I have taken at the various forums of candidates who have a primary race sorted by the seat they are seeking:

MACON COUNTY SHERIFF

Robbie Holland is running for a third fourth term as the Sheriff of Macon County and Bryan Carpenter is challenging him. Who ever wins this race will be the Sheriff for the next four years because Democrats did not put forward a candidate.

Here are a few videos of both candidates at various forums over the past few weeks.







CANDIDATE FORUM HOSTED BY FOP LODGE #81

This forum includes candidates for District Attorney, another important race




DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR THE 30TH PROSECUTORIAL DISTRICT

This seat has been opened up by the impending retirement of Mike Bonfoey, who has served in this position since April 2003. Vying for the seat are Assistant DAs Jim Moore and Ashley Welch. I have more video of Ashley because Jim Moore did not attend all the forums.





MACON COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT I

Jim Tate has served in this position since he was appointed by the Republican Party in December 2011 to replace Brain McClellan, who resigned. He won an unopposed reelection in 2012 to complete the term to which he had been appointed. Challenging him is John Shearl, who currently serves on the Macon County Planning Board. Here are the videos I have of these two candidates:



The following forum includes some candidates who did not have a primary, and I apologize for not having the time or resources to cut this video up into just the segments that involve those running in the primary.



REGISTER OF DEEDS

This is another local race that involves Todd Raby, who is running for a third term, and challengers Kenneth Blaine and Nicki Tallent.









NC SENATE DISTRICT 50
This seat is currently held by Jim Davis, who is a Republican. He has no primary challengers, but there are two Democrats facing each other for the opportunity to run against him in the fall. Jane Hipps and Ron Robinson are the candidates. Ron Robinson did not attend one of the forums is the reason there are more videos of Jane Hipps than there are of him.




US HOUSE NORTH CAROLINA DISTRICT 11

This seat is also currently held by a Republican, Mark Meadows. The Democrats seeking to replace him are Tom Hill and Keith Ruehl. Keith Ruehl did not show at any event in Macon County and Tom Hill at only one, so I just have the one video of Tom Hill.


So, for those of you who watched the videos, I hope you feel better informed on what your choices are tomorrow. Now, go out and be a good citizen and vote. If you do not vote, you are giving your stamp of approval on whoever wins tomorrow.


PATREON CAMPAIGN

Macon Media is a community-supported news source focusing on public affairs at the local level, along with local weather and public safety news and I am in need of assistance so that I can continue doing this thing and take it to the next level with a better website and newer equipment. If you are interested, please know that even a dollar a month would be greatly appreciated. Visit Patreon for more information on how you can help.

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Early Voting in Macon County A Statistical Primer of the Macon 2014 Primary

The early voting, or One-Stop, period from April 24th through 1 pm on May 3rd is over and some preliminary statistics are available.

2,031 out the 24,977 registered voters participated, making the turn out 8.13% or one in twelve of registered voters took the opportunity to vote early.

VOTERS BY REGISTRATION

Registration	# Voters	% Turnout	% by Party Registration
Republicans	958	47.17	9.73
Democrats	578	28.46	7.63
Unaffiliateds	493	24.27	6.59
Libertarians	2	0.09	2.78

EARLY VOTERS BY AGE

The average age of the early voter was 62. Only 20 people under the age of 21 voted and 41 people aged 90 and over voted. In fact, the older generation dominated the early voting with 1,070, or 52.68% of the turnout, were aged 65 and older. The table below shows more information:

AGE BLOCK (YEARS)	# VOTING	% VOTING
18-44	340	16.74
45-64	621	30.58
65 +	1,070	52.68

TOMORROW'S TURNOUT

How does all this translate into the turnout for tomorrow and the primary overall?

I am thinking the turnout will be around 18% and would be surprised if it exceeded 23% based on the turnout figures from previous election cycles.

I will be in the big courtroom monitoring the votes as they come in and will be posted a live play by play on Facebook at Macon Media and a wrap up at MaconMedia.com shortly after the results come in.

In order to assist me in continuing to provide this kind of live coverage, please consider pledging at least a dollar a month to my crowd funding campaign at Patreon.

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Mark Meadows Wins Runoff Election Margin of Victory 76.32% to 23.68%

Precinct-level map of last night's results (larger image)
**note** Thanks to Jason Chappell for notifying me of a grievous error in the map.

Mark Meadows won the second primary in the US House of Representatives race in the 11th Congressional district yesterday by a very wide margin, taking 15 of the 17 counties. Those number are below:

Unofficial tally of the Meadows vs Patterson race (larger image)

Vance Patterson conceded the race early, the first twitter report of that coming in around 9pm.

The results here in Macon County were much the same as in the rest of the district, with Meadows taking 84.11% of the vote and sweeping the 15 precincts in the county.

Results of the Meadows vs Patterson race in Macon County (larger image)

The results in the rest of the races can be viewed on the North Carolina Board of Elections website.


Now, the task becomes winning the Congressional race in the fall.

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Today is the Second Primary Get Out and Vote

Today is the second primary for several races in North Carolina. If you know where your polling place is, get out and vote.

The only candidate that I'm endorsing is Mark Meadows for Congress in the NC-11 Republican Primary.

The only candidate I'm anti-endorsing is Richard Morgan in the Insurance Commissioner race. Vote for Mike Causey just because he isn't Richard Morgan.

Who is Richard Morgan, you ask? Publius 2013 has the answer.

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Mitt Romney Clinches Republican Nomination with Landslide Win in Texas

As of last night, with 69% of the vote in Texas, Governor Mitt Romney has secured enough delegates to clinch the nomination to be the candidate of the Republican Party in the 2012 general election.

His campaign released the following statement last night:

Today, Mitt Romney released the following statement on clinching the required number of delegates for the Republican nomination.

“I am honored that Americans across the country have given their support to my candidacy and I am humbled to have won enough delegates to become the Republican Party's 2012 presidential nominee. Our party has come together with the goal of putting the failures of the last three and a half years behind us. I have no illusions about the difficulties of the task before us. But whatever challenges lie ahead, we will settle for nothing less than getting America back on the path to full employment and prosperity. On November 6, I am confident that we will unite as a country and begin the hard work of fulfilling the American promise and restoring our country to greatness.”

As the above map shows, Texas was a Romney landslide and Ron Paul could only manage 11.9% of the votes in his own home state...the worst home state performance of any Presidential candidate this election cycle. (Mitt Romney 72.2% in Massachusetts, Newt Gingrich 47.2% in Georgia and Rick Santorum 18.3% in Pennsylvania).



The delegate count, according to the AP, stands at:

1,183 Mitt Romney
261 Rick Santorum
135 Newt Gingrich
129 Ron Paul

Now, the focus of the Republican Party, save for a few delusional people, will turn to working toward the election of Mitt Romney as the 45th President of the United States of America and the RNC National Convention in Tampa Bay [website], Florida will be a showcase for the Romney Campaign [website].

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A Report on the iCaucus Conference Call with NC-11 Candidates Vance Patterson and Mark Meadows

Christine Gates, of the Caldwell TEA Party, participated in an iCaucus conference call that included both the Republican candidates in the run off election in the NC11 GOP Primary.

The purpose of Monday’s conference call was to lay our cards on the table and discuss the 800-pound elephants in the room.



1. How do we get through this run-off without cannibalizing other Republicans and giving the Democrats ample ammunition against us in November?

2. How can all these groups (TEA, 912, and GOP) get through the run-off and remain friends, so we can ALL work together for the nominee in the General Election? And even more importantly, how do we keep everyone invested in the political process through the General Election in November, so they don’t leave the political process?

3. What role would the iCaucus vetting and endorsing process play in the run-off?

4. The biggie for many of us: Which candidate has the support and the money to get them selves across the finish line in November against a very well funded Democrat, Hayden Rogers?

Source: Caldwell TEA Party "Vance, Meadows, iCaucus conference call" 

I really wish that there had been an audio and video of the conference call made available for full transparency...but I don't expect that from an iCaucus event.

In the past, I have not trusted iCaucus...most especially those in the NC11 Congressional District who have been a part of the process...namely, anyone associated with the Asheville Tea Party. Jane Bilello, and Erike Franzi and Tim Peck before her, have not been transparent individuals. They've been unequivocal Dan Eichenbaum Supporters, even to the point of publicly announcing voting Heath shuler over Jeff Miller. I hope that Jane Bilello proves me wrong in my suspicions.


I remind every one of the results of the May 2012 Primary:

Mark Meadows (REP) 37.90% 35,518
Vance Patterson (REP) 23.62% 22,139
Jeff Hunt (REP) 14.09% 13,206
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 11.31% 10,597
Susan Harris (REP) 6.15% 5,762
Kenny West (REP) 4.21% 3,946
Spence Campbell (REP) 1.91% 1,787
Chris Petrella (REP) 0.82% 767


TOTAL 93,722

Source: Infographic: May 2012 NC11 GOP Primary Results

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Infographic: May 2012 NC11 GOP Primary Results

Here are the results of the NC11 GOP Primary that was held yesterday:

 Mark Meadows (REP) 37.90% 35,518
Vance Patterson (REP) 23.62% 22,139
Jeff Hunt (REP) 14.09% 13,206
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 11.31% 10,597
Susan Harris (REP) 6.15% 5,762
Kenny West (REP) 4.21% 3,946
Spence Campbell (REP) 1.91% 1,787
Chris Petrella (REP) 0.82% 767

TOTAL 93,722

There will be a runoff between mark Meadows [website] and Vance Patterson [website] on June 26, 2012 to decide who will face Hayden Rogers this fall.


**Edit** I'm reading several media stories that say the runoff will be in July, but none of them mention a date.

I have endorsed Mark Meadows in this race.


Results By County

CHEROKEE

Vance Patterson (REP) 36.38% 1,288
Mark Meadows (REP) 21.07% 746
Kenny West (REP) 15.37% 544
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 11.30% 400
Jeff Hunt (REP) 7.71% 273
Susan Harris (REP) 5.99% 212
Spence Campbell (REP) 1.55% 55
Chris Petrella (REP) 0.62% 22

TOTAL 3,540

CLAY

Kenny West (REP) 39.08% 580
Vance Patterson (REP) 21.50% 319
Mark Meadows (REP) 19.20% 285
Jeff Hunt (REP) 8.29% 123
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 4.65% 69
Susan Harris (REP) 5.19% 77
Spence Campbell (REP) 1.42% 21
Chris Petrella (REP) 0.67% 10

TOTAL 1,484


GRAHAM

Mark Meadows (REP) 46.55% 613
Vance Patterson (REP) 20.65% 272
Kenny West (REP) 12.91% 170
Jeff Hunt (REP) 6.68% 88
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 7.67% 101
Susan Harris (REP) 3.95% 52
Spence Campbell (REP) 1.06% 14
Chris Petrella (REP) 0.53% 7

TOTAL 1,317


SWAIN

Mark Meadows (REP) 38.43% 372
Vance Patterson (REP) 22.11% 214
Jeff Hunt (REP) 10.95% 106
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 9.81% 95
Kenny West (REP) 9.30% 90
Susan Harris (REP) 6.71% 65
Spence Campbell (REP) 1.55% 15
Chris Petrella (REP) 1.14% 11

TOTAL 968


MACON

Mark Meadows (REP) 48.74% 2,203
Vance Patterson (REP) 16.55% 748
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 11.57% 523
Kenny West (REP) 7.77% 351
Jeff Hunt (REP) 7.57% 342
Susan Harris (REP) 6.19% 280
Spence Campbell (REP) 0.82% 37
Chris Petrella (REP) 0.80% 36

TOTAL 4,520


JACKSON

Mark Meadows (REP) 47.72% 1,414
Vance Patterson (REP) 19.57% 580
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 8.00% 237
Kenny West (REP) 7.66% 227
Jeff Hunt (REP) 7.42% 220
Susan Harris (REP) 6.85% 203
Spence Campbell (REP) 1.86% 55
Chris Petrella (REP) 0.91% 27

TOTAL 2,963


HAYWOOD

Mark Meadows (REP) 38.61% 2,104
Vance Patterson (REP) 24.42% 1,331
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 16.55% 902
Jeff Hunt (REP) 9.19% 501
Susan Harris (REP) 6.62% 361
Kenny West (REP) 2.42% 132
Spence Campbell (REP) 1.49% 81
Chris Petrella (REP) 0.70% 38

TOTAL 5,450


TRANSYLVANIA

Jeff Hunt (REP) 45.22% 2,388
Mark Meadows (REP) 25.41% 1,342
Vance Patterson (REP) 12.18% 643
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 7.08% 374
Susan Harris (REP) 5.45% 288
Kenny West (REP) 2.40% 127
Spence Campbell (REP) 1.69% 89
Chris Petrella (REP) 0.57% 30

TOTAL 5,281


MADISON

Mark Meadows (REP) 29.94% 556
Jeff Hunt (REP) 26.12% 485
Vance Patterson (REP) 16.86% 313
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 16.37% 304
Susan Harris (REP) 5.17% 96
Kenny West (REP) 2.26% 42
Chris Petrella (REP) 1.94% 36
Spence Campbell (REP) 1.35% 25

TOTAL 1,857


BUNCOMBE

Mark Meadows (REP) 35.69% 4,169
Vance Patterson (REP) 19.10% 2,231
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 15.77% 1,842
Jeff Hunt (REP) 13.12% 1,533
Susan Harris (REP) 8.08% 944
Kenny West (REP) 5.57% 651
Spence Campbell (REP) 1.57% 183
Chris Petrella (REP) 1.10% 129

TOTAL 11,682

HENDERSON

Mark Meadows (REP) 47.89% 8,534
Jeff Hunt (REP) 20.77% 3,701
Vance Patterson (REP) 15.36% 2,737
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 4.97% 886
Susan Harris (REP) 4.61% 821
Spence Campbell (REP) 3.96% 705
Kenny West (REP) 1.76% 313
Chris Petrella (REP) 0.70% 124

TOTAL 17,821

YANCEY

Mark Meadows (REP) 48.90% 1,240
Vance Patterson (REP) 16.80% 426
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 14.39% 365
Jeff Hunt (REP) 11.20% 284
Susan Harris (REP) 4.57% 116
Kenny West (REP) 2.05% 52
Spence Campbell (REP) 1.46% 37
Chris Petrella (REP) 0.63% 16

TOTAL 2,536

MITCHELL

Mark Meadows (REP) 41.75% 1,808
Vance Patterson (REP) 25.44% 1,102
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 16.65% 721
Jeff Hunt (REP) 8.64% 374
Susan Harris (REP) 4.53% 196
Kenny West (REP) 1.85% 80
Spence Campbell (REP) 0.79% 34
Chris Petrella (REP) 0.37% 16

TOTAL 4,331


McDOWELL

Mark Meadows (REP) 35.44% 1,810
Vance Patterson (REP) 19.19% 980
Jeff Hunt (REP) 16.84% 860
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 15.43% 788
Susan Harris (REP) 7.93% 405
Kenny West (REP) 3.35% 171
Spence Campbell (REP) 1.17% 60
Chris Petrella (REP) 0.65% 33

TOTAL 5,107


AVERY

Mark Meadows (REP) 36.69% 1,353
Vance Patterson (REP) 26.95% 994
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 17.71% 653
Jeff Hunt (REP) 6.13% 226
Susan Harris (REP) 5.64% 208
Kenny West (REP) 3.39% 125
Spence Campbell (REP) 2.30% 85
Chris Petrella (REP) 1.19% 44

TOTAL 3,688


BURKE

Vance Patterson (REP) 43.01% 4,017
Mark Meadows (REP) 27.95% 2,610
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 11.44% 1,068
Jeff Hunt (REP) 7.78% 727
Susan Harris (REP) 6.24% 583
Spence Campbell (REP) 1.45% 135
Kenny West (REP) 1.34% 125
Chris Petrella (REP) 0.79% 74

TOTAL 9,339


CALDWELL

Mark Meadows (REP) 36.84% 4,374
Vance Patterson (REP) 33.30% 3,953
Ethan Wingfield (REP) 10.71% 1,271
Jeff Hunt (REP) 8.25% 980
Susan Harris (REP) 7.23% 858
Kenny West (REP) 1.40% 166
Spence Campbell (REP) 1.31% 156
Chris Petrella (REP) 0.96% 114

TOTAL 11,872

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Flashback: May 6, 2008 Primary Day in Photos

Here are a few photos I shot four years ago today (I was prolifically posting them to a photoblog, but it never generated traffic so i closed it down after a few months), followed by links to what I blogged about on that day...the 2008 primary.





















Here are some interesting numbers from the NC-11 race four years ago...

US HOUSE NC-11 (GOP)

Spence Campbell (REP)		41.48%	15,616
Carl Mumpower (REP)		49.00%	18,447
John C. Armor (REP)		9.52%	3,586
			37,649

NC Primary: Winners, Losers, and Protesters

Primary Day Slide Show

Primary Day Report: Savannah Precinct in Jackson County

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Mitt Romney Sweeps April 24th Primaries

Mitt Romney swept all five states in the April 24th primaries and made the official pivot toward the general election last night. The remianing candidates, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul, failed to make a case as an alternative to Mitt Romney. This primary was more or less over since February, now, all but the most obtuse can see that it is over.

The Results

Mitt Romney won all five states yesterday and here are the results, minus the delegate wins, which should be overwhelmingly in his favor. According to the AP estimate, Mitt Romney has 844, Rick Santorum has 260, Newt Gingrich has 137 and Ron Paul has 79 delegates. 1,144 is needed to be the nominee of the Republican Party. I project that by May 22nd or 29th, Romney should clinch the Republican nomination battle and all that will be left is the official voting by the delegates at the RNC National Convention in Tampa, Florida.









Mitt Romney: A Better America



Transcript:

Thank you Pennsylvania, Delaware, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York! And tonight I can say thank you, America. After 43 primaries and caucuses, many long days and more than a few long nights, I can say with confidence – and gratitude – that you have given me a great honor and solemn responsibility. And, together, we will win on November 6th!

We launched this campaign not far from here on a beautiful June day. It has been an extraordinarily journey.

Americans have always been eternal optimists. But over the last three and a half years, we have seen hopes and dreams diminished by false promises and weak leadership. Everywhere I go, Americans are tired of being tired, and many of those who are fortunate enough to have a job are working harder for less.

For every single mom who feels heartbroken when she has to explain to her kids that she needs to take a second job … for grandparents who can’t afford the gas to visit their grandchildren … for the mom and dad who never thought they’d be on food stamps … for the small business owner desperately cutting back just to keep the doors open one more month – to all of the thousands of good and decent Americans I’ve met who want nothing more than a better chance, a fighting chance, to all of you, I have a simple message: Hold on a little longer. A better America begins tonight.

Tonight is the start of a new campaign to unite every American who knows in their heart that we can do better! The last few years have been the best that Barack Obama can do, but it’s not the best America can do!

Tonight is the beginning of the end of the disappointments of the Obama years and the start of a new and better chapter that we will write together.

This has already been a long campaign, but many Americans are just now beginning to focus on the choice before the country. In the days ahead, I look forward to spending time with many of you personally. I want to hear what’s on your mind, hear about your concerns, and learn about your families. I want to know what you think we can do to make this country better…and what you expect from your next President.

And I’ll tell you a little bit about myself. I’ll probably start out talking about my wonderful wife Ann – I usually do – and I’ll probably bore you with stories about our kids and grandkids. I’ll tell you about how much I love this country, where someone like my dad, who grew up poor and never graduated from college, could pursue his dreams and work his way up to running a great car company. Only in America could a man like my dad become governor of the state in which he once sold paint from the trunk of his car.

I’d say that you might have heard that I was successful in business. And that rumor is true. But you might not have heard that I became successful by helping start a business that grew from 10 people to hundreds of people. You might not have heard that our business helped start other businesses, like Staples and Sports Authority and a new steel mill and a learning center called Bright Horizons. And I’d tell you that not every business made it and there were good days and bad days, but every day was a lesson. And after 25 years, I know how to lead us out of this stagnant Obama economy and into a job-creating recovery!

Four years ago Barack Obama dazzled us in front of Greek columns with sweeping promises of hope and change. But after we came down to earth, after the celebration and parades, what do we have to show for three and a half years of President Obama?

Is it easier to make ends meet? Is it easier to sell your home or buy a new one? Have you saved what you needed for retirement? Are you making more in your job? Do you have a better chance to get a better job? Do you pay less at the pump?

If the answer were “yes” to those questions, then President Obama would be running for re-election based on his achievements…and rightly so. But because he has failed, he will run a campaign of diversions, distractions, and distortions. That kind of campaign may have worked at another place and in a different time. But not here and not now. It’s still about the economy …and we’re not stupid.

People are hurting in America. And we know that something is wrong, terribly wrong with the direction of the country.

We know that this election is about the kind of America we will live in and the kind of America we will leave to future generations. When it comes to the character of America, President Obama and I have very different visions.

Government is at the center of his vision. It dispenses the benefits, borrows what it cannot take, and consumes a greater and greater share of the economy. With Obamacare fully installed, government will come to control half the economy, and we will have effectively ceased to be a free enterprise society.

This President is putting us on a path where our lives will be ruled by bureaucrats and boards, commissions and czars. He’s asking us to accept that Washington knows best – and can provide all.

We’ve already seen where this path leads. It erodes freedom. It deadens the entrepreneurial spirit. And it hurts the very people it’s supposed to help. Those who promise to spread the wealth around only ever succeed in spreading poverty. Other nations have chosen that path. It leads to chronic high unemployment, crushing debt, and stagnant wages.

I have a very different vision for America, and of our future. It is an America driven by freedom, where free people, pursuing happiness in their own unique ways, create free enterprises that employ more and more Americans. Because there are so many enterprises that are succeeding, the competition for hard-working, educated and skilled employees is intense, and so wages and salaries rise.

I see an America with a growing middle class, with rising standards of living. I see children even more successful than their parents - some successful even beyond their wildest dreams – and others congratulating them for their achievement, not attacking them for it.

This America is fundamentally fair. We will stop the unfairness of urban children being denied access to the good schools of their choice; we will stop the unfairness of politicians giving taxpayer money to their friends’ businesses; we will stop the unfairness of requiring union workers to contribute to politicians not of their choosing; we will stop the unfairness of government workers getting better pay and benefits than the taxpayers they serve; and we will stop the unfairness of one generation passing larger and larger debts on to the next.

In the America I see, character and choices matter. And education, hard work, and living within our means are valued and rewarded. And poverty will be defeated, not with a government check, but with respect and achievement that is taught by parents, learned in school, and practiced in the workplace.

This is the America that was won for us by the nation’s Founders, and earned for us by the Greatest Generation. It is the America that has produced the most innovative, most productive, and the most powerful economy in the world.

As I look around at the millions of Americans without work, the graduates who can't get a job, the soldiers who return home to an unemployment line, it breaks my heart. This does not have to be. It is the result of failed leadership and of a faulty vision. We will restore the promise of America only if we restore the principles of freedom and opportunity that made America the greatest nation on earth.

Today, the hill before us is a little steep but we have always been a nation of big steppers. Many Americans have given up on this President but they haven’t ever thought about giving up. Not on themselves. Not on each other. And not on America.

In the days ahead, join me in the next step toward that destination of November 6th, when across America we can give a sigh of relief and know that the Promise of America has been kept. The dreamers can dream a little bigger, the help wanted signs can be dusted off, and we can start again.

And this time we’ll get it right. We’ll stop the days of apologizing for success at home and never again apologize for America abroad.

There was a time – not so long ago – when each of us could walk a little taller and stand a little straighter because we had a gift that no one else in the world shared. We were Americans. That meant something different to each of us but it meant something special to all of us. We knew it without question. And so did the world.

Those days are coming back. That’s our destiny.

We believe in America. We believe in ourselves. Our greatest days are still ahead. We are, after all, Americans!

God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.



Get Involved

If you are interested in defeating President Obama this November, I suggets that you become involved in the Romney Campaign. Visit the campaign website. [link] Find your local Romney Coordinator or grassroots group and start activating voters for the November election. Just posting crap on the Internet is not going to help win this election. Getting involved in an organized effort will be more effective than being a Keyboard Commando.

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League of Women Voters Candidate Forum

The Macon County Chapter of the League of Women Voters hosted a forum for candidates in the primary for Macon County Commissioner on Thursday, April 12, 2012 and here is a video and a few photos taken at the event that was held in the Tartan Hall of the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin, NC.

The forum was well-attended by civic minded Maconians and I look forward to a forum or two that is planned for the general election.



Photos

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Santorum Throws in the Etch-A-Sketch, Suspends His Presidential Campaign

Rick Santorum has finally wizened up to the fact that there was no way he could win this primary.

He dropped out today before he suffered an embarrassing loss in his home state of Pennsylvania on April 24th.

This leaves the financially broken Newt Gingrich and the delegate-starved Ron Paul still in the race.

Story from the New York Slimes:

2:51 p.m. | Updated Rick Santorum suspended his presidential campaign on Tuesday, bowing to the inevitability of Mitt Romney’s nomination and ending his improbable, come-from-behind quest to become the party’s conservative standard-bearer in the fall.

“We made a decision over the weekend, that while this presidential race for us is over, for me, and we will suspend our campaign today, we are not done fighting,” Mr. Santorum said.

Hat Tip: Drudge Report

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