Creative Loafing Charlotte

Will the Democratic South rise again?

New committee launched at inauguration hopes to re-energize at local level

• by Mary C. Curtis
• Tags: Commentary, Barack Obama, Inauguration 2013, Don and Carol Fowler, South Forward, Democratic National Convention, Democratic Party, Republican National Committee, Southern Democrats, Mary C. Curtis

Face of a generation: Sam Spencer

This young delegate is the future of North Carolina politics

• by Mike Cooper
• Tags: DNC CL + HuffPost, Young Democrats of North Carolina, Sam Spencer, delegate, DNC 2012, Democratic National Convention, politics, Charlotte, Al Franken, Rolling Stone, George W. Bush, Democratic Party

Global thinker: Jim Rogers

The outcome of the DNC could mean the world for the Duke Energy CEO

• by Christina Wilkie
• Tags: DNC CL + HuffPost, DNC 2012, Jim Rogers, Duke Energy, Democratic Party, fund-raising, Democratic National Convention, Huffington Post

DNC 2012 Notebook: Celebrities, political and otherwise, reveal Queen City secrets

• by Mary C. Curtis
Kal Penn of "Harold & Kumar" stardom used to work for Obama - and is a huge NASCAR fan
• Tags: News, Democratic National Convention 2012, Kal Penn, Harold & Kumar, President Barack Obama, DNC, DNC 2012, Democratic National Convention, Democratic National Convention Committee, NASCAR, Charlotte Motor Speedway, White House, North Carolina, Charlotte, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Joey Logano, Leilani Munter, Las Vegas, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Mary C. Curtis, voter-ID bill, Uptown, Affordable Care Act, health-care reform, Democrat, Democratic Party, Bank of America Stadium, convention, Democratic National Convention Committee, Obama for America

DNC 2012 Notebook: With one month to go, some but not all questions answered

• by Mary C. Curtis
Most importantly the million dollar - or $36.6 million - question
• Tags: News, Democratic National Convention 2012, DNC, DNC 2012, Mary C. Curtis, President Barack Obama, Charlotte, Democratic National Convention, Time Warner Cable, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, NC Music Factory, Democratic Party, Vice President Joe Biden, San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro, keynote speaker, Texans, Gov. Ann Richards, Congresswoman Barbara Jordan

DNC 2012 Notebook: Is North Carolina turning red?

• by Mary C. Curtis
As political commercial season ramps up, perhaps Romney's attacks on Obama are starting to sway the Tar Heel state in the presumptive Republican candidate's favor
• Tags: News, Democratic National Convention 2012, President Obama, Mitt Romney, TV, commercials, ads, Charlotte, Democratic National Convention, DNC, DNC 2012, Affordable Care Act, offshore, job creation, The Washington Post, Obama Campaign, Mary C. Curtis, The Fix, North Carolina, Democratic Party, economy, The New Republic, theGrio, women, convention, Rachel Maddow, union, Obama campaign

DNC Notebook: A budding bromance?

• by Mary C. Curtis
Mayor Anthony Foxx and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa praise each others' cities and work.
• Tags: News, Democratic National Convention 2012, Mayor Anthony Foxx, Los Angeles, L.A., Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, DNC, Democratic National Convention, Steve Kerrigan, Comelia Sanford, Democrat, Democratic Party, North Carolina, Amendment One, Spanish, Harvest Moon Grill, Mary C. Curtis

The N.C. Governor's Race: Walter Dalton Q&A

• by Mike Cooper
North Carolina's lieutenant governor discusses his vision for North Carolina as a Democratic candidate for governor.
• Tags: News feature, News, Walter Dalton, lieutenant governor, Gov. Beverly Perdue, Republican, Pat McCrory, Bill Faison, Bob Ehteridge, Rutherfordton, North Carolina, Research Triangle Park, Raleigh, Democratic Party, Amendment One, U.S., education, issues, Logistics Taskforce, 2008, 2010, defeat, voter, vote, voter ID, voter fraud, Rutherford County, America, Rural Center, New Generation Initiative, Michael A. Cooper Jr., Charlotte School of Law, New Leaders Fellow, Center for Progressive Leadership, North Wilkesboro, Mike Cooper

DNC Notebook: Clearing the way for minority businesses

• by Mary C. Curtis
Local minority coalitions are peeved at DNCC's diversity plan and committee staff members volunteer in the Queen City.
• Tags: News, Democratic National Convention 2012, Democratic National Convention 2012, DNC, DNCC, diversity, Charlotte, Mary C. Curtis, Steve Kerrigan, James Ferguson II, LGBT, minorities, women, veterans, Carolina Regional Minority Partnership Coalition, CRMPC, Democrat, Democratic Party, Stephane Berwald, Metrolina Minority Contractors Association, Pat Cotham, Colette Forrest, Tom Rosfelder, security, Ohio, Secret Services, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, 2, 012, volunteer, Ramblewood Park, Allenbrook Elementary, Charlotte Woman of the Year, A Woman's Place, Levine Museum of the New South, Davidson College, Rabbi Judy Schindler, Carol Quillen, Leadership for the 21st Century, Sandra Conway, Keeping It Positive, NPR, The Root, Fox News Rising Charlotte, Politics Daily, Twitter

Saturday shindig fires up N.C. Democratic Party base

• by Mike Cooper
Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton brings old-school Southern swagger to governor's race.
• Tags: News, Democratic Party, North Carolina, Democrats, governor's race, Bev Perdue, Walter Dalton, Greensboro, Bill Faison

Dems out, Dems in: N.C. Democrats go crazy in a day

• by Mike Cooper
Gov. Bev Perdue announces she will not seek reelection — and other party shakeups...
• Tags: News, North Carolina, N.C., Democratic Party, Democrats, General Assembly, governor, Gov. Bev Perdue, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, Pat McCrory, Anthony Foxx, Erskine Bowles, Heath Shuler, Brad Miller, David Price, Bill Faison, anti-gay marriage amendment, Amendment One

News analysis: Does local election signal statewide rebuke of 'McCrory-Tea Party axis'?

• by Mike Cooper
State Democratic leaders say victory sends strong message to N.C. Tea Party, Art Pope and former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory
• Tags: News, news analysis, Democratic Party, Republicans, Tea Party, Art Pope, election

Democrats dominate local elections with big, symbolic wins

• by Mike Cooper
Mayor Foxx prevails; fresh Democratic faces in Charlotte City Council
• Tags: News, Democratic Party, Mayor Anthony Foxx, Charlotte, elections

Democratic National Convention 2012 Notebook: State delegations give Charlotte the once-over

• by Mary C. Curtis
Most delegates are visiting the city this week merely to check out the area for next year's convention. Maryland Democratic Party chair Yvette Lewis has an extra reason: She was born and raised in Charlotte.
• Tags: Democratic National Convention 2012, Charlotte, Democratic National Convention, state delegate, Democratic party