Easley, Burr capture victories

Nov. 3 — Both the Republican and Democratic parties saw a mix of victory and defeat in North Carolina on Election Day.

Gov. Mike Easley squashed Republican challenger Patrick Ballantine on Tuesday, garnering 55 percent of the vote with 99 percent of precincts reporting.

Ballantine received 43 percent.

In Orange County, Easley received 66.54 percent of the vote, while Ballantine received 31.16 percent.

Ballantine held the lead based on absentee ballots and early voting results, but Easley’s supporters turned up at the polls Tuesday to carry him to a resounding victory.

Ballantine, who retired as N.C. Senate minority leader to run for governor, conceded the race early.

“It was too difficult to overcome an incumbent with all his (financial) resources,” Ballantine said after his concession speech.

Back in the winner’s circle, N.C. Democratic Party Chairwoman Barbara Allen said Easley has proven himself by leading the state through adverse budget conditions and advocating innovative education initiatives.

“He sees the upturn (in the economy),” she said.

“And education will be in the forefront of his administration. We need early education. He will focus on retooling, retraining the work force — finding not just jobs, but good jobs.”

After months of bitter campaigning and mudslinging, Republican Rep. Richard Burr defeated Democrat Erskine Bowles to become the state’s junior senator.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Burr won 52 percent of the popular vote Tuesday, while Bowles won 47 percent.

“Today is a special day for me, and I want to thank everyone who believed in my candidacy,” Burr the more than 500 people attending the victory party at the Bridger Field House at Wake Forest University’s Groves Stadium.

“I feel fortunate and blessed to be standing in front of you as winner of the North Carolina Senate race.”

Bowles, also surrounded by family and friends, took the stage 10 minutes later at the Raleigh Convention Center to congratulate Burr on his win.

This latest attempt at the Senate is the second for Bowles. Though he has been a major actor in successful campaigns, such as President Clinton’s 1992 bid for the White House, he has yet to secure an elected office for himself.

It was a close race to the end. According to a Mason-Dixon poll published Friday, Bowles and Burr were separated by just three-tenths of a percentage point.

North Carolina will now have two Republican senators. Sen. Elizabeth Dole defeated Bowles in the 2002 election for Senate.

In the race for the 4th District of the U.S. House, Rep. David Price cruised to re-election over the back of Republican Todd Batchelor.

Batchelor, a political newcomer, was no match for the longtime congressman, who won his ninth term — and his fifth straight — by garnering more than 60 percent of the vote.

The 4th District encompasses the entirety of Orange and Durham counties, a chunk of Wake County and a sliver of Chatham County.

In the state Senate, Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, D-Orange, beat out Republican Robert “Whit” Whitfield in the race for the 23rd District.

The win was long anticipated but not guaranteed.

Redistricting made a victory slightly tougher for the fourth-term senator. Orange County remained in her territory, but predominately Democratic Chatham County was replaced by Person County, a fairly conservative area.

Finally, in the race for the state House, Rep. Verla Insko won re-election. No one ran against her.

Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.