On December 15, North Carolina’s fifteen members of the Electoral College gathered in the old House chamber of the state Capitol building in Raleigh, casting all of the state’s electoral college votes for Senator Barack Obama for president and and...... MORE
Organized labor rose to become a major player in the 2008 elections in North Carolina, bringing three common phrases to mind: (1) “money is the mother’s milk of politics”; (2) “always follow the money”; and (3) “he who has the...... MORE
One doesn't have to look far - just a little more than a century ago, when another historic election took place. A picture of that election, in 1898, provides an understanding of just exactly how monumental of a leap was...... MORE
Readers were quick to let us know about memorable omissions from the Capitol Monitor’s “Political Slogans, Parts One & Two” series. Here are just a few of the more colorful additions that we’ve received....... MORE
In the Capitol Monitor article “Political Slogans: Part One,” we examined the history of political slogans in the Tar Heel state, examining the origins of the term “slogan” and its history as a tool in political campaigns. Now, during the...... MORE
As with every election year, political slogans whirl about the airways, boggling the imagination this campaign season. Newspaper, radio, and television ads, bumper stickers, campaign flyers, pamphlets, yards signs, and buttons assault the voters at every turn - and their associated...... MORE
Political pundits, public policy interest groups, and the news media in North Carolina have all been lamenting the massive political spending in the state during this election year, especially that which is flowing in from out-of-state. Much of this money,...... MORE
Time magazine has dubbed 2008 “The Year of the Youth Vote.” Haven’t we heard this kind of thing before?Remember the “Year of the Soccer Mom,” or the “NASCAR Dad”? Every presidential election year, it seems that the mainstream media focuses on some...... MORE
Anyone with a television has likely noticed an uptick recently in political advertising as candidates vie to win their respective elections in November. While many of the ads are sponsored by the candidates themselves, the influence of outside organizations is increasing...... MORE
Are lawmakers really representing the concerns of their voting constituencies, or might they be more influenced by special interests?...... MORE