Friday, May 09, 2008

Reflections on the primary…

A few thoughts from Tuesday’s primary results:

* U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry’s sweep of all 10 counties of the 10th Congressional District appeared to mean a lot to the congressman, at least symbolically. He mentioned taking Catawba County several times in interviews.
What the development means is debatable. Challenger Lance Sigmon ran an aggressive campaign, but raised surprisingly little money and entered the race with virtually no name recognition. However, Catawba County is Sigmon’s home turf and the heart of McHenry opposition.
Sheriff David Huffman, by comparison, won Catawba County with about 60 percent of the vote in the 2004 runoff election against McHenry. McHenry won Catawba County Tuesday with 51 percent of the vote, compared to 66 percent district-wide.
Some observers feel Democrat Daniel Johnson could be a more formidable opponent than Sigmon. Well-known in Hickory, Johnson drew great support in the city on Tuesday. He’s already raised more money than any Democrat in years.
The general consensus is Johnson will have to win Catawba County by a fairly wide margin, take a couple of other counties and stay competitive in McHenry territory to pull the upset.

For more, click below.

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Johnson responds to McHenry

Democrat Daniel Johnson didn’t appreciate U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry’s categorization of him following Tuesday’s election. Their race hasn’t officially begun, but the two have already traded shots.

Click below for more.

McHenry statement to supporters

U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry issued the following statement on his Web site following Tuesday’s election.

Click below.

A Closer Look at Tuesday’s Election

The following are a few notes and interesting facts from Tuesday’s election.

Click below.

Could Johnson pull the upset?

HIckory’s Daniel Johnson is viewed as the Democrats’ best hope in years to break through and end Republican domination in the 10th Congressional District.

Click below for today’s story on keys to a Johnson victory.

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Election overview: Clinton wins Catawba County

From Staff Reports

Hillary Clinton defied the statewide trend in Catawba County in Tuesday’s primary and outpolled Barack Obama.
With all 40 precincts reporting, her vote total in the Democratic presidential primary was 9,746 to Obama’s 7,251. Obama, however, swept the state’s nominating votes.
John McCain and Elizabeth Dole handily won the support of Catawba County voters as expected in Tuesday’s primary.
McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee for president, received 10,377 votes. His nearest challenger, Mike Huckabee, got 1,843 votes.
Dole, running against a virtual unknown for U.S. Senate, got 12,577 votes in Catawba County.
She will face Democrat Kay Hagen, a runaway winner, in the November election.
Catawba County Republican voters also favored Pat McCrory for governor, Robert Pittinger for lieutenant governor, Richard Morgan for superintendent of public instruction, Jim Wynn and Sam Ervin IV for the N.C. Court of Appeals, and Gary Dellinger for N.C. District Court.
Democrats in Catawba County went for Beverly Perdue for governor, Walter Dalton for lieutenant governor, Beth Wood for state auditor, David Smith for commissioner of insurance, Mary Fant Donnan for commissioner of labor, June St. Clair Atkinson for superintendent of public instruction, and Janet Cowell for state treasurer.

Partisan support brings people to the polls

Click below for HDR reporter Dee Henry’s article of voter reaction from Tuesday’s election.