Call these endorsements or not — whatever.  Enough people have asked me to post these over the past few elections that I feel like doing one here.  I do my best to be clear with just how much knowledge (or lack thereof) about the candidates I’m basing my decisions on, so I don’t give any false impression of expertise.  Anyway, enough primary blather to choke a horse awaits just below the fold….

(I’ve put whom I’m voting for in bold, for perhaps easier reading.)

President

It’s time for this saga to end.  Obama’s 50 state strategy and his background in community organizing with the IAF was enough to win me over initially, after it was apparent we weren’t going to get a governor as the nominee, which was my original hope.  Since then, Clinton’s insulting and petulant campaign has only made that decision easier. 

US Senate

An investment banker who’s lived most of his life out of state isn’t my idea of an ideal candidate, regardless of sexual orientation.  That said, Jim Neal is very impressive in his policy positions, and he didn’t have to be dragged into the race.  I honestly don’t know how I’m going to vote tomorrow – based on resume, it would be Hagan.  Based on rhetoric, it would be Neal.  Based on electability, it would be Hagan.  Based on sheer courage, it would be Neal.  Hmph.

Governor

I didn’t vote for Bev Perdue when she ran for the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor.  Why?  Because everything I heard was that she was little more than a party hack, with little inspiring about her.  During her tenure as LG, she’s been involved in some good child and mental health initiatives, but other than that it’s been pretty unremarkable.  So, when she announced her candidacy for the Governor’s office, I can’t say I was excited.  On the other hand, Richard Moore caught my attention with his advocacy of a minimum wage increase, so I was initially more predisposed towards his candidacy.  However, in the ensuing campaign, both of them have heaped such mountains of mud on the other, the whole thing has became a rather depressing sight.  Both have shown little hesitation to stoop to the lowest forms of campaigning, demonizing immigrants and touting their “get tough” stances on crime and the death penalty.  I have no doubt either would make a passable governor, but I have to say I’ll be very surprised if either turns out to be anything other than a continuation of North Carolina Democratic machine politics.  That said, North Carolina has been under the control of the machine for the last 16 years and 24 of the last 32, and it’s done considerably better in that time than many other states, so there’s worse things.

Still, there’s this decision to be made.  Two