John Davis speaks to Charlotte Rotary
By Matt Joyner
        
"Obama, Obama, Obama! It's all about Obama!" Thus Charlotte Rotary was greeted by John Davis, President of the North Carolina Forum for Research and Economic Education ("NCFREE"). Davis, a 23 year veteran of handicapping political races in North Carolina, spoke to the group meeting at the Harris Conference Center regarding the 202 races for office taking place in the state this year, with particular emphasis on the combined impacts of the changes in the state's demographics and the rise of Illinois U.S. Senator Barack Obama to the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party.
 
Davis noted that the record turnout (36% of registered voters) in the recent primary elections in North Carolina reflected the fact that the state is now home to more voters than ever before (now up to 6 million), and that increasingly those voters are recent arrivals from the North, younger, more urban, more independent and more progressive. Davis emphasized that in this particular election cycle the tide is running toward an anti-establishment, generation changing mood that favors both Barack Obama in his run for the U.S. Presidency, and, interestingly enough, Pat McCrory in his run for the N.C. Governor's office.
 
At this point political power in North Carolina is becoming urbanized for the first time in the state's history. North Carolina is currently the tenth most populous state in the Union and is on track to become the seventh most populous by 2030, much of the growth coming from younger people transplanting from Northern states such as Pennsylvania. Fully one half of the total voting population in the state is now concentrated in only 14 of its 100 counties, typically along the state's I-85 corridor. The urban counties are becoming increasingly Democratic and the adjacent exurban counties increasingly Republican.
 
The state has 2.9 registered Democratic voters, 1.9 registered Republican voters and 1.2 million registered Independent voters. Davis noted that the Independent voters will determine the outcome of every political race in the state this year, and that those voters who have been in the state less than five years will determine the outcome of every close race. Interestingly the state's registered voters are also 55% women and 45% men, which results in a significant advantage for female candidates in North Carolina.
 
In particular races, Davis thinks the generation-changing Obama surge may also actually help Pat McCrory in this state that is accustomed to ticket-splitting. Davis notes that North Carolina is still "John McCain's to lose," but that it could happen. Elizabeth Dole is not safe in Davis' opinion for the same generation-changing reasons that help McCrory. As for Charlottean candidate for Lieutenant Governor Robert Pittenger, Davis said that the candidate "seems to be sitting at his kitchen table thinking up his own television ads" and that he better get professional campaign help soon if he is going to have a chance to win.
   
Head Table: George MacBain, Henry Cantrell, David Zimmerman, Natalie English, John Cantrell, Joel Walters;
Invocation: Jessica Brasington;
Visitors & Guests: Bill Underwood; Health & Happiness: Phil Volponi; Music provided by Julianne Katz, CPCC Summer Theater

• Sympathy is extended to Roberta Smith in the loss of her father, Mr. Louis Palumbo.
     
• Catherine Browning saw Edgar Love and his family at breakfast recently and reports Edgar is anxious to return to Rotary; Chambers and Partners (world-wide lawyer ranking service out of London) ranked Van Hoy, Reutlinger, Adams & Dunn Number 2 in Labor & Employment-NC and ranked Phil Van Hoy Number 1 in Labor & Employment-NC; Honorary Consul of Germany, Kurt Waldthausen, was busy with the German coalition that was in Charlotte last week; Tony Zeiss is working on a book called "The Wit And Wisdom of John Belk."
    
• Ballantyne Rotary (Friday's at 12:30) has a new meeting location: City Tavern-Stonecrest, 7828 Rea Rd.
    
• Incoming Health & Happiness chair, Marilynn Bowler, announced a twist to enhance H&H. Rotarians are not only involved in club activities - they are also involved in numerous civic organizations. Beginning in July, the H&H team will incorporate a 30-second highlight of members and their outside activities into the usual 3-minute segment. Those wishing to participate may email your information to Marilynn (mbowler@gocheckers.com) or Sandy (chltrot@bellsouth.net).
    
• Thanks are extended to Jerri Haigler for lining up a performance from their CPCC Summer Theater. Bill Allen and Tom Cottingham were the lucky recipients of ticket gift certificates.
 
• Communities In Schools will present Dine Out For Kids on Tuesday, June 17th. Look for Bill Anderson to have stickers and a list of participating restaurants at the June 17th meeting.
    
• Mass emails from the Rotary office are sent by distribution lists as a "bcc" for privacy reasons. The down side is this type of delivery is often blocked by Spam filters. Please be sure to "allow" messages sent from the office.