Republican Convention - Day Two

Day two of the 2007 North Carolina Republican Convention started with the traditional breakfast for the County Chairman's Association. It is at this breakfast that the County Chairman elect the Chairman of their organization. This year the unanimous choice was Bob Pruett from Carteret County, shown below.

Immediately after that breakfast, the Saturday morning session started on the convention floor. This is always one of the best attended sessions of the convention because all of the candidates for statewide office are granted an opportunity to speak to the delegates. For many, the convention is their first chance to meet the candidates face to face at their booths in the hall outside the convention floor. Their speeches in this morning session are often the first chance many delegates have to hear the candidates positions on the issues. Both are important so the convention is very powerful tool in impacting the support the candidates will get in their campaigns around the state. As a result everyone seriously running is always at the convention and always does their best speech.

The first speeches in this session are usually from the candidates for Governor. This year there are three Republicans running for Governor. They are Senator Fred Smith (from the Clayton-Goldsboro area), Bob Orr (former Supreme Court Justice) and trial lawyer Bill Graham, well known contributor to political campaigns, both Democrat (What? Yes, this is true. He even supported Easley against the Republican candidate last time.) and Republican (Does that make him bi-partisan?).

Of the three, the one whose speech was clearly the hit of the convention was Senator Fred Smith's. The ending had the crowd roaring its approval.




Though on a lower key, Bob Orr was also well received. Bob is right on the issues and a really good man, but his judicial temperament and studious language will be a hard sell on the campaign trail.

The third candidate, Bill Graham, had an interesting reception. Only a couple of anti-tax points were well received and that was partly due to the clear lack of volunteer support. Though there were a large number of people wearing the orange "We" t-shirts for Graham, it quickly became obvious in talking with them they were all paid college students from outside North Carolina. When the speeches started they all lined up along the edges of the convention floor standing as guests and not seated on the convention floor because they were not North Carolina Republican delegates. There were at least a couple of delegates who referred to Graham as "our" John Edwards!

His "volunteers" cheered on cue, but the effect was not spontaneous or sincere.

After these three gubernatorial candidates spoke, the candidates for Lieutenant Governor followed. My choice is Patrick Ballantine, shown giving his speech below. Patrick is an up and coming Republican star who will be around for many years. He will make a great Lieutenant Governor for North Carolina.

One area where Republicans fell down badly last year was in judicial races. These are supposed to be non-partisan races , but in truth that change in election process was done by the democrats specifically to harm Republican candidates. The trial lawyers give millions to democrat activist judges since they are the ones who have allowed our court system to get so out of control. Since the change, Republican judges have lost most races and our North Carolina court system is about to go over to the control of liberals.

The three candidates that will be up for election next year are Bob Edmunds, for Supreme Court, John Tyson and Doug McCullough for appeal courts, shown below. Those three names need to be remembered and supported statewide. Bob Edmunds, John Tyson and Doug McCullough are great judges. As is repeatedly stated, voting the Republican ticket will not get these justices elected. You must specifically vote for them at the bottom of the ballot in the non-partisan election area of the ballot. The three candidates spoke together and are shown below with Bob Edmunds on the left, John Tyson in the middle and Doug McCullough on the right (Bill Miller, master of ceremonies is seated in front).




After the speeches, the morning session ended and the luncheon commenced. Below, Fred and Ginny Smith are meeting people while waiting for the food service to start.



Invocation for the luncheon was given by Jim Bention, shown below, one of the county Vice Chairmen who are so important to the success of our party.





Speeches at the luncheon were provided by two of our most popular federal officials, Sue Myrick, U.S. Representative (shown below), and Elizabeth Dole, Senator. Sue is chairman of a group dedicated to protecting our borders and is passionate about that cause. She gave a speech denouncing the proposed amnesty bill, and enlightening everyone on its shortcomings.






Senator Elizabeth Dole (below) gave the keynote speech for the luncheon.

Afterwards, I was able to get in line and get a couple of the Senator Fred Smith books for myself and a friend from Gatesville who knows Ginny Smith from her work in the Federation of Women's Clubs. Ginny, shown on the right below, was this year's Woman of the Year. Ginny signed that book too.

Above, Blair Keen, one of Fred's volunteers looks on as Fred and Ginny prepare to sign my friends book.

After that, the only thing left for me to do was to cast the Bertie County votes in the Chairman and Vice Chairman races before I headed home. The existing Chairman, Daves, and the existing Vice-Chairman, Sawyer, were re-elected easily.

I skipped the Saturday Night banquet, but I don't think I missed much. The highlight of the convention was the fantastic popularity of Senator Fred Smith's book, and Fred's speech at the Saturday Morning session.

I was there for those.