The Daily Haymaker

New poll: Cooper up by NINE

Posted on August 7, 2026 by Brant Clifton

Granted, this is a poll conducted by Gary Pearce – the James Carville of North Carolina politics – and a group called Change Research. Gary was Jim Hunt’s top political

Dirtbag Thom and his stupid book NO ONE asked for (or even wants)

Posted on August 6, 2026 by Brant Clifton

This is not a joke. This is a real book to be released around October. Harper Collins, a real big-time publisher, actually put up money to publish this stinker. Here’s

When RINOs roar: Moore County GOP gets all cease & desist on nascent conservative caucus

Posted on August 6, 2026 by Brant Clifton

With three months to go before the big November election, there is little harmony to be found in one of the most loyal GOP-voting counties in North Carolina. Something called

Edwards debacle spurring political game of musical chairs in WNC

Posted on August 5, 2026August 6, 2026 by Brant Clifton

THAT is what we’re hearing from that neck of the woods. Ted Budd‘s call for Chuck Edwards to scram apparently paid off. Edwards confirmed today he is bailing on his

Crying in Harris-Teeter: A deep dive into the Chuck Edwards ethics probe

Posted on August 4, 2026 by Brant Clifton

You know things must be bad for Chuck Edwards. Senator Ted Budd is the farthest thing from being an adventurous risk-taker. But he is apparently the first BIG state Republican

When the heat is on, look to Chappelle (and plead the FiF).

Posted on August 3, 2026August 4, 2026 by Brant Clifton

If Chuck Edwards listened to me – and I know he DOES NOT – I’d have him following the path of one Mr. David Chappelle. That’s right: *Plead the fizz-iff.*

Greater Carolina probe expanding to include ABC warehouse debacle

Posted on July 31, 2026July 31, 2026 by Brant Clifton

Welcome to the party, Mister House majority leader. It appears the mess over a new warehouse for the state Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) board is getting some serious scrutiny by

Phil Berger appoints former Cooper admin official to NCDOT state board

Posted on July 31, 2026July 31, 2026 by Brant Clifton

Jim Trogdon retired as Roy Cooper’s Transportation secretary in 2020 amid some withering criticism over the NCDOT’s finances: […] In Fiscal Year 2019, the DOT spent $6.8 billion against a

North Carolina got “hoodwinked” on prediction market gambling

Posted on July 30, 2026July 30, 2026 by Brant Clifton

At least that’s what a certain Republican, portly former US attorney and New Jersey governor is trying to tell us: The North Carolina legislature recently voted to legalize sports gambling

New Fox News poll. (SIGH)

Posted on July 29, 2026July 29, 2026 by Brant Clifton

It seems like that four-point spread by Public Policy Polling was just yesterday. Here’s Fox News: In North Carolina, more Democrats than Republicans say they are extremely interested in the