{cross posted at Scrutiny Hooligans and BlueNC}
There's so much news on our race in NC-11 that it's hard to keep up. The Heath Shuler campaign, the Charles Taylor campaign, the DCCC, the ATLA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have all run television ads already. As the money and media buys roll in, so does the coverage.
The right-wing blogosphere has discovered the race, and they're shouting into the ether with posts like this one from "The American Thinker": "Shuler has been going negative against Taylor on TV for a while now, which might be effecting poll numbers, but that's nothing new. They've gone negative on Taylor many times before, so much so that a local right wing paper notes you can tell it is an election year when the area's left wing "alternative" press, our local equivalent to the Chicago Reporter, finds some new charge to bring against Taylor."
The right-winger fails to note that Taylor went negative before Shuler even had ads up. They also fail to note to subtle difference between the word 'effect' and the word 'affect'. How long will they trot out the old "liberal press" chestnut in response to charges against a failed, corrupt Congressman? The entire American Thinker post is equally vapid, and I don't recommend going to read the whole thing unless sadism is doing it for you these days.
If you've been impressed by the national forces converging on NC-11, you'll be underwhelmed by the C-list Dick Armey and his conjured anti-government group, FreedomWorks coming to the district to "educate and mobilize likely voters on where candidates stand on crucial economic issues". Well that sounds like a nice public service until you read on, "It is no secret that left wing powerhouses like Americans United and MoveOn.org will be active over the coming months promoting a big-government, high tax agenda. In key races we will answer with our grassroots army and limited government message." God help us, Dick Armey wants to drown the government in a bathtub, and he wants Charles Taylor to hold it by the neck.
In an unrelated coincidence, the League of Conservation Voters wants YOU to vote on which Congressman should feel their wrath: "Rep. Charles Taylor (NC-11): As chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, with jurisdiction over the national parks, he has been openly hostile to environmental causes. He supported Bush's energy bill, and has been criticized for repeatedly backing efforts to open public lands to logging." Go vote.
In an instance of "I just started paying attention, and I like prognosticating with little or no information", Wizbang weighs in with the most absurd quote you'll read about Charles Taylor - "He's done nothing to hurt his own popularity." Jim Addison, Wizbanger turned disinformationist, obviously hasn't heard about CAFTA, Flight 93, underfunded parks, stagnant wages, Jack Abramoff, Blue Ridge Savings, Russian businesses, crush videos, unpaid taxes, or that strange odor.
The Hill reports on which House members are bringing home Jumbo pork sandwiches with bacon and ham gravy in the latest appropriation intended to save floundering members: "Taylor, an appropriator who is up against local football legend Heath Shuler, landed more than $3 million for his district."
Can you feel the ironies yet? Small government Dick Armey campaigning for Election year bacon chopper, Charles Taylor, while the Congressman rails against wasteful government spending. Taylor has failed to raise the standard of living for so many, yet he thinks he's doing folks a favor when he drops $700k to build homes for the impoverished. It's weird and unsightly. Dick Armey screaming "More Conservatism" while his reputedly conservative Republican colleague croaks "Pork for Victory!"
Despite all the right wingers' hard work, the latest poll shows Shuler still ahead of Taylor. This is the first poll in which either candidate has risen above 50%. Shuler 50, Taylor 47.
If you've been waiting to get involved, know that others aren't. Tom Tancredo's coming to town to excite the racists. Dick Armey's coming to excite the Norquist conservatives. Right wing bloggers are working to drag the SCLM to the fringe. Et vous? What are you doing?
You can do a lot. Want to do it? Contact the Shuler campaign to donate or volunteer today. Our chance to unseat Taylor is here.