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Pork and politics mixed in Huntersville Tuesday night as Republican candidates for state and local office gathered to meet supporters and drum up enthusiasm at a barbecue event.
The fourth annual North Mecklenburg Republican Women’s “Pig Pickin’ and Politickin’ ” was held at Northstone Country Club. Local Republican candidates and their surrogates from across the area attended – including judicial hopefuls, at-large Mecklenburg County commissioners, and congressional contenders.
Since the first presidential debate, a contest Republican challenger Mitt Romney is widely agreed to have won, polls have showed eroding support for President Barack Obama. With only four weeks before the general election, the Republican base at Tuesday’s event was fired up, and the debate was a frequent topic.
“How’d you like that debate?” Tim Daughtry, author of “Waking the Sleeping Giant: How Mainstream Americans Can Beat Liberals at Their Own Game,” asked the crowd. He was greeted with enthusiastic whoops. “We’re beginning to feel encouraged now. We’re beginning to feel like this could go our way.”
The candidates encouraged the hundred or so attendees to support candidates they weren’t necessarily familiar with, such as justice Paul Newby of the N.C. Supreme Court. He’s running for re-election in a race that could tilt the court’s 4-3 conservative-liberal balance, which is why many Republicans consider that one of the most crucial contests in the state.
Republican congressional candidate Robert Pittenger, who is running against Mecklenburg Commissioner Jennifer Roberts in District 9, could not attend because he was called to jury duty.
Sue Myrick, the retiring Congress member representing District 9, spoke on behalf of her son, Dan Forest, who is running for lieutenant governor. She encouraged those present not to let up before the election.
“If we don’t get out and work, it isn’t going to happen,” Myrick said.
