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| Pam Melton is the Director of Political Affairs for the NC Credit Union League. |
There is no question North Carolina has become a major political player. The 2008 presidential election ushered in a new era for our state, as we witnessed a huge grassroots push in North Carolina from President Obama’s campaign. Those efforts paid off as North Carolina backed a Democrat in the presidential election for the first time since 1976.
Will North Carolina voters see a repeat of the powerful 2008 grassroots campaign?
It’s still early in the election year to see indications of a strong grassroots push. However, that does not mean North Carolina is being ignored. It’s actually quite the opposite. North Carolina made a strong presence in a recent listing of the 10 top campaign ad markets. The Greensboro/High Point market clinched the top spot. The Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville market and the Raleigh/Durham market made the list as well. President Obama, Mitt Romney and a host of Super PACs are running both positive and negative ads in these top markets.
“With so much focus on the presidential election, it’s easy to overlook the significance of this election year on both the state and federal levels,” said Pam Melton, NCCUL Director of Political Affairs.
“As the election year unfolds, the League will provide insight into federal and state races that the credit union industry should watch closely,” explained Melton. “In addition, the League will secure opportunities for credit union representatives to meet candidates.”
Before we can turn our focus to November, the state still has undetermined election results. A second Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, July 17. For a complete list of run-off elections, please see the following chart:
“Voter turn-out in runoff elections can potentially be low, explained Melton. “I encourage you to participate in runoff elections in your area. If the July 17 date is not convenient for you, please consider voting early.”
Early voting for the July 17 runoff election begins on Thursday, June 28 and ends on Saturday, July 14. Please select the following link, One Stop Voting Sites, to find the early voting location in your county.
The League will send election reminders throughout this election season. In addition, more detail will be provided about the races to watch in the runoff election.
If you have a suggestion for an article or would like more information on a political process, tool or anything election related, please don’t hesitate to contact Pam Melton of the League at 919-457-9067.