Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have made frequent visits to North Carolina ahead of the November election. (Trump photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images. Harris photo from video stream during Aug. 16 appearance in Raleigh. )
VP Kamala Harris outlines economic policy plan during a North Carolina campaign stop
Vice President Kamala Harris emphasizes building the middle class during a speech in Raleigh, NC. (Christine Zhu/NC Newsline)
By Lynn Bonner and Christine Zhu
Vice President Kamala Harris introduced a broad economic plan at her presidential campaign stop in Raleigh on Friday that focused on day-to-day economic issues many people face such as high grocery bills, the cost of raising a family, and affording a home.
Voters rank the economy as their top priority. Polls have shown that voters prefer former President Donald Trump on the economy, though Harris has cut into his lead, the Washington Post reported this week.
Her plan to build what she called “an opportunity economy” seeks to address the economic stresses pressing on Americans such as housing costs that discourage first-time home buyers, food prices, and high rent.[Read more…]
New polling shows a surge toward Harris in NC and other swing states
Vice President Kamala Harris at an Atlanta rally, July 30, 2024. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
The latest Cook Political Report Swing State Project poll, released Wednesday, shows Vice President Kamala Harris outperforming or tied with former President Donald Trump in all but one of the seven swing states, including North Carolina.
Harris holds a narrow lead overall in the battleground states with 48 percent of respondents saying they’d vote for her, compared to 47 percent for Trump.
It’s a notable shift from the last Swing State Project survey in May, in which Trump surpassed President Joe Biden by three points overall. Trump led or tied Biden in each of the seven swing states. [Read more…]
Donald Trump aims to sharpen economic message in North Carolina speech, warning of ‘Kamala crash’
Former President Trump holds up breath mints to explain inflation during his August 14 speech in Asheville. (Screengrab from Donald J. Trump YouTube videol)
In a North Carolina speech designed to hone in on his economic message, former President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned of a “1929-style depression” under his opponent, while pledging to roll back major Biden-era initiatives and spending.
Trump’s remarks — which he branded as “intellectual” to attendees in Asheville — frequently veered off into personal criticisms of Vice President Kamala Harris, and included asides on immigration and President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out from the race. [Read more…]
Robinson alleges Stein’s wife was ‘deeply embedded’ in DHHS. AG says his claim is ‘ridiculous’
Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein (L) and Lt. Governor Mark Robinson (R) (File photos)
Spokesperson for DHHS confirmed Anna Stein “has not been involved” in oversight work
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, in a speech Wednesday at an event for former President Donald Trump, slammed the “weaponization of government” as he likened state oversight of his family’s businesses to Trump’s ongoing investigations and legal battles.
And he alleged that Attorney General Josh Stein’s wife was “deeply embedded” in the agency charged with that oversight — a claim that Stein, a Democrat running against Robinson for governor, called “ridiculous and completely false.” [Read more…]
Big Duke Energy dollars are flowing to attacks in the NC governor’s race
By Christine Zhu and Rob Schofield
Company has given millions to ‘527’ groups, including one that recently launched an ad attacking Josh Stein
North Carolina’s largest energy provider has a long record of making campaign contributions to politicians of both major political parties. Charlotte-based Duke Energy has, for instance, donated more than $1 million directly toward electing governors in recent years, as well as to dozens of candidates for other state government offices.
But a recent attack ad launched in North Carolina on behalf of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in his gubernatorial contest against Attorney General Josh Stein by the Republican Governors Association (RGA) — a so-called 527 that can receive direct corporate contributions and use them to support candidates — is serving once more to shine a spotlight on the contributions. [Read more...]
Pension fund philosophy, health plan stability: NC’s next treasurer faces big decisions
Democratic State Rep. Wesley Harris (left) faces Republican Brad Briner (right) this November to become NC Treasurer. (File photo of Harris, Briner photo courtesy UNC.edu)
It’s been 30 years since former North Carolina Treasurer Harlan Boyles published “Keeper of the Public Purse,” a brief examination from the conservative Democrat about how money was raised and spent in North Carolina on behalf of the people. Boyles held office for 24 years, maintaining North Carolina’s AAA credit rating while guiding the investment of $70 billion in state and pension funds.
Boyles’ conservative approach was revered by many and shaped the management style of current state Treasurer Dale Folwell. [Read more...]
Two million North Carolinians could benefit as hospitals sign on to debt forgiveness program
Dave Almeida of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, NC DHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley and Gov. Roy Cooper at a July 2024 press conference on medical debt forgiveness. (Photo: Lynn Bonner)
By Ahmed Jallow
Gov. Roy Cooper announced Monday that 2 million North Carolinians will have their medical debt forgiven after all the state’s 99 acute hospitals signed up for a landmark program designed to wipe out debt for low- and middle-income patients.
The announcement comes after last month’s federal approval of the Cooper administration’s plan to forgive up to $4 billion in hospital debt for millions of people in the state. [Read more...]
Public-private partnerships pave the way for new mixed-income housing in Durham
Commerce Street Apartments will be adjacent to Elizabeth Street Apartments shown here. (Photo: Greg Childress)
Construction equipment beeped and whirred in the background and dump trucks roared in the distance during a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for Commerce Street Apartments, a 172-unit, mixed-income apartment complex in downtown Durham.
Local, state and national housing officials called the construction noise sounds of progress.
[Read more…]
Bonus housing reads:
* High building costs, interest rates take a bite out of housing affordability
* NCDEQ faces complaints about oversight of weatherization assistance program
The nation’s post-Olympics vibe leans hopeful; politicians should take heed (commentary)
Opening ceremonies, 2024 Paris Olympics. (Photo by Stephanie Lecocq – Pool/Getty Images)
If there was a moment that best captured the positive vibe of the recently concluded global media extravaganza that was the Paris Olympic Games, it might just have been the action of a pair of U.S. athletes who missed out on a gold medal. It happened near the conclusion of the women’s gymnastics competition when gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles – who had won silver and bronze, respectively, in the floor exercise – used the medal ceremony to acknowledge the gold medal winner, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade.
Frequently, the second and third place winners stand by in stoic sobriety and, even occasionally, in tears of disappointment as the winner takes the spotlight and is serenaded with their country’s national anthem. Not this time.[Read more.…]