#NCSEN: Harris campaign challenging narrative of Tillis inevitability

The Daily Haymaker, by Brant Clifton, February 24, 2014 

There’s been quite a bit of suspicion for some time that Charlotte pastor Mark Harris’ Senate campaign was merely a stalking horse to peel Tea Party votes away from  Greg Brannon.  Harris labels himself a conservative — like Thom Tillis does.  But he’s named former congressman, NCGOP chairman and Ripon Society fanboy Robin Hayes as his campaign chairman.  Hayes’ longtime political strategist, Tom Perdue, has also come aboard the Harris effort.

Observers have been quick to note how — in forums and other public events — Harris and his supporters are quick to criticize Tea party favorite Brannon, but are silent on Thom Tillis, the favorite of Establishment, left-of-center Republicans.  In some forums, Harris has spoken in defense of Tillis on toll roads and other aspects of the General Assembly’s agenda. 

But things appear to be changing on that front.  I’ve seen polling from pros — with campaigns and unaffiliated — suggesting that Harris appears to be getting a good chunk of votes in Tillis’ Charlotte-area home base.  Perdue, the Harris strategist, has upped the ante a little bit with some crowing to Roll Call, the DC-based “newspaper of Capitol Hill”:

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Hampstead Democrat files for U.S. Senate, giving Hagan a primary

Port City Daily, February 24, 2014

The candidate field continues to expand as filing for the 2014 elections enters its final week.

New in the mix is Will Stewart, a Hampstead-based Democrat who filed Monday for U.S. Senate–meaning incumbent Sen. Kay Hagan, also a Democrat, will face a primary in May. Four Republicans had previously filed for that seat: Mark Harris of Charlotte, Heather Grant of Wilkesboro, Ted Alexander of Shelby, and Greg Brannon of Cary.

READ ABOUT IT HERE! 

Washington Republicans help fill Tillis’ war chest

Charlotte Observer, Jim Morrill, February 10, 2014

Cornelius Republican Thom Tillis has added 10 more U.S. senators and more than a dozen state lawmakers to the list of donors to his Senate campaign, according to a new campaign report.

Tillis has raised $1.8 million, more than three times any GOP opponent. However, he trails Sen. Kay Hagan, who raised $9.9 million last year.

Tillis’ nearest Republican competitor financially is Greg Brannon, a Cary physician who raised $524,500.

Charlotte pastor Mark Harris, who Monday picked up the endorsement of a candidate who just left the race, raised $406,000, according to his campaign. He has nearly $206,000 on hand, more than Brannon.

Tillis, speaker of the N.C. House, continued to benefit from support of GOP congressional leaders. Earlier donations came from the political action committees of House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio and Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

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Carson: Children need to harness brain power - Winston-Salem Journal: State / Region

HICKORY — Noted neurosurgeon Ben Carson and other speakers sounded a rallying cry for retooled education and reverence to God at the Hickory Metro Convention Center on Thursday night.

More than 500 people gathered to hear Carson and others tell their tales of triumph through faith, discipline and action.

The Rev. Mark Harris, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Charlotte, and the Rev. Barry Black, current U.S. Senate chaplain, also spoke.

Carson talked about growing up in dire poverty, surrounded by bad influences and complacency. He said he remembered his cousins being killed and seeing people dying from bullet wounds.

It was his mother who altered the course of his life. He said he had not seen any importance in his studies and was frequently taunted by the more successful students in class.

"I was always the butt of every joke about being stupid," Carson said.

Carson said that his mother, who had a third-grade education, had a powerful work ethic and supported her children as a single parent.

"She saw that no one that went on welfare came out of it," Carson said. "She didn't want to be on it in the first place."

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