This is number seven in a planned series of 50 entries between now and November, looking at each of the 50 states in terms of every race on that state's ticket--Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senate, House, State legislatures--the whole pack of cigarettes.  Special attention paid to identifying and promoting the most important contests per state.

This time, we look at North Carolina, the state that made Barack Obama the Democratic nominee for President!

Beyond the presidential race, there is a buttload of statewide and congresional prmaries taking place tomorrow. With some, the outcome is obvious. Others will be close and no one knows for usre how they will shake out. Here are my prediction below the fold.

-DavidNYC at Swing State Project has written a piece listing the incumbent Democratic Congressmen who have lost a reelection bid since 1996. There have only been 16 of them in toto, and eight of those were casualties of redistricting. Quite an impressive record for Democrats, and it gives us hope heading into this fall, when so many Democratic freshmen will be up for reelection.

-CQ Politics, taking a cue from Swing State Project, lists the lists the top 10 House challengers to incumbents in order of cash-on-hand. Not surprisingly, nine of them are Democrats:

Jim Himes, CT-04
Kay Barnes, MO-06
Darcy Burner, WA-08
Mark Schauer, MI-07
Dan Seals, IL-10
Judy Feder, VA-10
Michael Skelly, TX-07
Gary Peters, MI-09
Bob Lord, AZ-03

The lone Republican on the list is Sandy Treadwell in NY-20, challenging Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, and Treadwell only because he's a self-funder.

NV-03: State Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus kicked off her candidacy for this D+1 seat today, as the previous candidate, Robert Daskas, suddenly dropped out last week. The DCCC seems excited about Titus' candidacy, and the district is certainly winnable. She starts about $1M behind Republican incumbent Jon Porter, but she has good fundraising contacts from her unsuccessful 2006 run for Governor, so we'll see if she can catch up.

NC-03: On several issues, Republican incumbent Walter Jones has slowly drifted away from much of his party in recent years, most notably in his opposition to the Iraq War. In fact, Jones was reportedly targeted by House Democrats to switch parties in early 2007. As such, Jones faces a primary challenge from unashamed right-winger Joe McLaughlin in his staunchly Republican district (R+15) district. With a week to go before the primary, Jones looks to be in good position to survive:

With less than a week until North Carolina’s primary, Joe McLaughlin (R) is still waiting for his ship to come in.

McLaughlin, an Onslow County commissioner, was tagged early this cycle as a potential GOP incumbent-slayer, in this case against Rep. Walter Jones Jr. (R-N.C.), a born-again Iraq War critic. But in the waning hours leading up until the Tar Heel State’s May 6 primary, an upset of Jones appears unlikely, and preliminary conclusions already are streaming in for the reasons why: fundraising, fundraising, fundraising.

Even McLaughlin’s campaign on Wednesday wasn’t glossing over the reality of empty cupboards.

"I’m not an idiot. When [Jones] has got three-quarters of a million dollars [and McLaughlin] has got a buck and a quarter, I would never commit that we’re going to go out there and beat him," McLaughlin spokesman Doug Raymond said. "But I bet my house that it’s going to be close."

Even the Club for Growth turned down McLaughlin for financial aid, which has to hurt.

MO-09: We've had a lot of fun with Brock Olivo in the past, and we'll continue to do so. But there's a much more serious and dangerous Republican candidate in the race: medical doctor, State Representative, and certified nutter Bob Onder, who is the perfect Republican one-trick pony: he's already learned how to use the Big Bad Liberals as a scarecrow in lieu of having actual policy proposals.

Here's the centerpiece of his economic platform:  

-Hold the line against Liberals in Washington who want to raise our taxes

And as for social issues:

As a father of six and a committed husband of 13 years, Dr. Onder is a family man first and foremost. He will stand up to Liberals who want to destroy marriage and cheapen the sanctity of human life.

I always like the guys who capitalize "Liberals". You know they're the really special ones.

Unlike Brock Olivo, Onder is actually a serious candidate, and currently the Republican frontrunner for the seat: he has raised over $370K so far, although he is $250,000 in debt. He's opposed by Democrats Steve Gaw and Judy Baker.

NY-13: Republican Rep. Vito Fossella was arrested for DUI last night (hat tip to ortcutt). This can't be good for him, not in a district with a slight Democratic lean, not when the DCCC has already targeted him for defeat. Democrats Domenic Recchia and Steve Harrison are vying for the right to face Fossella, though the filing date is not until July 17 and another candidate could step forward.

Running for Federal or Statewide office is a consuming experience for the candidate. I have been running full time, full speed and dragging anyone willing to help, for over a year in my quest for North Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District seat in Congress. I have learned so much about lots of things, but mostly about people. I could go on and on about the different types of people; caring, concerned, aggressive, timid, politically consumed, apolitical and indifferent. So many backgrounds and life experiences, but all, to some degree, products of our  environment.

I have loved meeting all of the people along the campaign trail and I look forward to the many I have yet to meet. I love to hear the life stories of struggle, overcoming, heartbreaks and blessings. Without trying, they have taught me lot.  There is something though that I have noted; a sort of string woven into the being, culture and fabric of North Carolinians and all Americans for that matter. People want their leaders to say what they mean and mean what they say.

I got a call from my son today. Billy is the son who was wounded in battle in Iraq just outside of Baghdad in 2006. He has shrapnel in his neck and shoulder, still. He has had surgery on his leg and it is well again. He is suffering from, and has been diagnosed with, Traumatic Brain injury (TBI). Consequently he now has a type of Tourette Syndrome and suffers from "tics", sort of involuntary jerks or sudden movements.  I am happy I still have my son.

Anyway Billy called to tell me that he has been informed, by the Army Medical Board, that he is being retired with a 50% disability.  My son understood the risks of being a career Army soldier. He had seen me serving in the Marines almost his whole live as a young man. It seemed a natural transition for him when he decided to make the Military his home. He also had the understanding that the Army too understood and accepted their responsibilities to him. That part hasn’t worked out that well.   Our President must not have factored in the cost of wounded soldiers when he let us borrow the money from China to wage war in Iraq.

Blackwater isn't doing its own political dirty work this time, they're depending on a wannabe used car salesman.

Marshall Adame, Democratic Congressional candidate in NC-3, received the following letter today from Jim Edwards, the chief staff officer of the Carolinas Independent Automobile Dealers Association. Like his ally at the mercenary company itself, Mr. Edwards apparently has more time on his hands than he has sense.

Mr. Adame:

I am NOT a contractor for Blackwater, I do not deploy to places where others fear to tread and yet I'm very familiar with Blackwater, their personnel, and more importantly their high-level, ethical business practices.

I am the CEO of this country's largest trade association of its genre' and am pleased to call Blackwater a member.

Imagine running for Congress in a red district against a long term incumbent. Then, put Blackwater in your district. Then, open your campaign with statements like:

Private Armies represent the very things we despise as a people. Servants to the highest bidder with true allegiance to no-one.

Did I mention that he knows because while in Iraq, he was transported in several Blackwater convoys?

Note: I'm not a resident of North Carolina but I wrote about this candidate in the interest of increasing our majority in Congress.

"The US Congress is in distress. The U.S. Constitution is in danger of becoming irrelevant. Our representatives in Washington have failed us all.  North Carolina needs to send a voice of strength, experience and reason to Washington DC."

Marshall Adame is the voice North Carolina needs in Congress. It is time to pass the torch. Let’s elect Mr. Adame to Congress.

"Greater freedoms will manifest greater strength"

The above quotes -- and subsequent text comes from the Marshall Adame for U.S. Congress N.C. District 3 website. A Democrat, Adame served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 22 years as an Aviation Logistician and retired in 1991. He is a Vietnam War, Desert Storm and Iraq War veteran but his outstanding, two-decade-plus, armed service career doesn’t begin to cover his stellar résumé.

Yesterday you learned about Blackwater's organized campaign of intimidation against Marshall Adame, a Democratic Congressional candidate. So guess how much news coverage the story generated in North Carolina's mainstream corporate press?

Exactly none.

******************

Updated with question mark at the end of the title. Some are arguing this doesn't constitute a threat. So let's frame it as a question. Threat? Pure stupidity? What's really going on here?

Things are heating up here in North Carolina, folks. And we need your help. An Executive Vice President at Blackwater USA  has threatened Mr. Marshall Adame, the Democratic challenger to Walter "Freedom-Fries" Jones in NC-3. We need to get Mr. Adame's back.

The email below was posted today at the Raleigh News and Observer's Blackwater Blog. It is an email from one of the @$$holes who works for Erik Prince in the war-profiteering business:

I am all for running everywhere, and the 50 state strategy.

But neither we nor the Republicans are running everywhere (at least not yet!) In this series, I will look at where we are not running (I am not going to look at where Republicans are not running, as I have no desire to help Republicans, however modestly)

This diary is partly inspired by the great work done by BENAWU.

crossposted to swingstateproject

Remember earlier this week, when Kos essentially begged Walter "Freedom Fries" Jones, Jr. (R-NC3) to bolt the Repubs and go indie--or even Dem?

Well, today, he showed where he really stands.  The SCHIP veto held up by the slimmest of margins--and every single Repub from North Carolina voted to uphold it.  Including Freedom Fries Jones.  Never mind that he represents a fairly rural district.  

I think I speak for all the Kossacks from North Carolina when I say this:  Congressman Jones, stay the hell out of the Democratic caucus.

Rep. Jones voted to support President Bush's Veto of S-CHIP.

Rep. Jones voted against cracking down on the oil and gas industries price gouging.

Big oil and gas industries have given Rep. Jones $65,408.

Rep. Jones voted to strip overtime protection from millions of workers.
Big drug interests have given $30,635 to Jones over the Representative's career. They know who their friends are.

Jones has taken $1,000 from House Majority Leader John Boehner (.John Boehner actually handed out checks from the tobacco industry on the floor of the US Congress)

Jones received $10,000 from House Majority Leader John Boehner's "Freedom Project" PAC.

Jones voted the GOP party line 86% of the time.

Walter Jones has taken $11,373 from Tom DeLay's ARMPAC. And lots more.

Walter Jones, he of "freedom fries" fame, has become one of the fiercest critics of the Iraq War of late. He's also a Republican, and such apostasy carries a price.

Rep. Walter Jones’s (N.C.) position on the Iraq war is likely to keep him out of the Armed Services Committee’s Republican leadership despite his seniority, as the panel’s ranking member mulls who will succeed former Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-Va.) as Readiness subcommittee ranking member, according to sources on both sides of the aisle.

A spokesman for Armed Services ranking member Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) said he has yet to make a decision and is working through the process of naming a successor to Davis, who died Oct. 6 following a two-year battle with breast cancer.

Jones most likely will be passed over for the subcommittee’s ranking member position for the second time in the 110th Congress, according to a congressional source familiar with the discussions. The anti-war Republican has been slighted in the past for siding with Democratic leadership on Iraq war resolutions.

This is an R+15 district, so it would make it one of the most Republican districts held by a Democrat. Jones would also be one of the most conservative members in the caucus.

Still, National Journal rankings list Jones as the second most "liberal" Republican in the House, and votes the "liberal" position 53.5 percent, or better than Democrats Dan Boren (OK, 49.2), Gene Taylor (MS, 50), Jim Marshall (GA, 50), Henry Cuellar (TX, 51), Collin Peterson (MN, 51), Bud Cramer (AL, 51.7), John Barrow (GA, 51.8), Charlie Melancon (LA, 52.2), Lincoln Davis (TN, 52.8), and Jim Matheson (UT, 53.3).

Yeah, yeah, that's a real rogue's gallery, and there's a good question about whether we want to reinforce the Bush Dog contingent. But given the hard-right bent of the district, the havoc it would wreak on the GOP's 2008 battle plans, and the reinforcement of the "GOP is collapsing" narrative, I'd happily take his switch.

France.
The United States.

Such a complex relationship we have.

Of course, who doesn’t gratefully recall Lafayette and the Statue of Liberty?
And who doesn’t love a glass of wine?

"How can you govern a country which has 246 varieties of cheese?"

--Charles De Gaulle, in Ernest Mignon's "Les Mots du General"

On the other hand, here we were, all ready to go invade Iraq; and here was France, in the United Nations, trying to stop us from going ahead.

(Cross-posted at MyDD.)

Back in April, in the face of massive public support for a clear timeline to end the war in Iraq, only two Republicans in the House and two in the Senate dared to buck the White House's pressure tactics and vote for the Iraq Accountability Act. The four were Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR), Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC), and Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD).

Coincidentally, all four are now facing potential primary challenges from the right.

Six Things that trouble me:

1. I am sorry that that Republicans and many Democrats venerate their party more than their country. Blind faith in any political, or government system is rarely healthy.

2. It appears that President Bush and the Republican Politicians have almost succeeded in convincing the American People that war is a good thing. How sad it was that our President chose to use our 9/11 tragedy as a tool for instilling fear and hatred in the American people, for each other.  

3. I am saddened by the political division which has fallen on America due to the years of Presidential and Republican arrogance, dishonesty and failure to adhere to Democratic standards of conduct from 2000-2006.

The Republican Party has even effectively used God to denigrate those who do not follow their precepts; making God, the creator of the universe, nothing more than a political supporter of the Republican Party. It will take some time to restore the damage caused by the Republican Party in their reckless quest for power and control of America. The Republican Party, led by the President, tried to keep us afraid. They failed.

I hope all is well with everyone at this time. As for me, I'm fresh out of my first year in college, and am beginning to settle back into politics for the summer. And that means keeping up to date on the latest happenings in politics around the country.

I'd like today to cover a number of House races that are seeing new candidates enter the fray, in both open seats and against incumbents of both parties. 2008 is important not only for the Presidency (although that clearly is numero uno in priority), but for Congress; the Democrats have a slender majority at best in the Senate and only a 16-seat margin in the House. Expanding our majorities in both houses is imperative if a Democratic President is going to get much accomplished in 2009 and beyond.