In home stretch of NCGOP leadership races, Pope & Bradley exude confidence
If you believe the spin of a lot of NCGOP insiders, the state Republican Party will be governed for the next two years by a former legislator and the cousin of Art “The Great Satan” Pope.
The campaign of former Wake County GOP chairman, and current Brunswick County businessman, Claude Pope has announced all kinds of endorsements from various GOP bigwigs. Pope is facing Mecklenburg County businessman Jack Brosch in the June vote for NCGOP chairman.
I caught up with former legislator Glen Bradley — one of three candidates for vice-chairman — at an event this weekend. Bradley says he and his team have counted noses and determined that they have a commanding lead based on majority support from establishment, libertarian and Tea Party factions in the party. Bradley dismissed rumors that he and chairman frontrunner Claude Pope do not get along:
“Claude is a great guy. He is a hard worker, and a great communicator, who has great ideas for our party. He’s been very good to Tea Party and Ron Paul people over the years. As far as establishment candidates go, I think grassroots activists will be pleasantly surprised with Claude Pope as party chairman.”
I asked Bradley if he worries about being isolated, or set off in a corner, as party vice-chairman. His response:
“I served in the House with Skip Stam. Ask him if I’m someone who will go off in a corner and sit quietly.”
Bradley faces former Guilford County GOP chairman Marcus Kindley and Tea Party activist Dave Goetze this summer at the NCGOP convention.
Is an endorsement from a US Senator who just sold us down the river on gun control something that helps a candidate for State Chairman? I don’t think so! That is an endorsement I would repudiate if I were in Pope’s shoes, or one I would call attention to if I were is Brosch’s shoes.
I believe I also said that I’m voting for and supporting Jack Brosch.
I say that because he is more likely to work towards helping to restore Constitutional government to the United States as quickly as possible, which I believe is the most critical task ahead of us, and I believe that the survival of our nation depends upon restoring the Constitutional order. So above all, putting America back on her Constitutional tracks is my first priority, and towards that end I believe that Jack Brosch will be more effective.