GOP opening its ears in Mecklenburg, Wake

North Carolina Republicans on Thursday launched a new effort to boost their fortunes in the state’s two largest urban areas.

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr and state Chairman Claude Pope said Project Listen is designed to better connect the party to voters in Mecklenburg and Wake counties. In November, Democratic U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan got more than 55 percent of the vote in each county despite losing statewide.

“Whether singing the party’s praises or hoping for its demise, we want a dialogue – a two-way conversation leading to better mutual understanding,” said GOP spokeswoman Carrie Brown. Jim Morrill

This story was originally published March 12, 2015 at 8:58 PM with the headline "GOP opening its ears in Mecklenburg, Wake."