Whatley lashes out at Carolina Journal and its pollster

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It’s funny to observe a GOP establishment candidate lashing out at a long-time defender of the GOP establishment.   But that’s what we have with Mike Whatley’s recent face-to-face attack on a reporter for John Locke’s Carolina Journal.  

Seriously, if you’re an establishment  Republican going after John Locke for  allegedly sabotaging you, you’re clearly in trouble.  Locke has an established reputation for running cover for the state’s GOP establishment. It’s rare to see them publishing anything that could remotely be interpreted as unhelpful to the party’s establishment.

Locke has regularly partnered with Harper Polling for surveys on 2026’s US Senate race.  By our count, Harper & CJ have collaborated on seven polls in this race since August of 2025.  The polls gave leads to Cooper of 8,4,8,8, 11,13, and 15. 

Now, let’s address the *worst* characterization Whatley assigned to CJ’s pollster.  If you check their website, Harper’s clients include the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC)  – Richard Hudson‘s outfit.  Their list of clients also includes Donald Trump, senator Rand Paul, and scores of other Capitol Hill and national Republicans.

According to their website, Harper broke away from a larger polling firm called Cygnal.  Cygnal was active in the 2024 governor’s race.  In mid-October 2024, one of their polls found a 13 point lead for Stein.  (Stein ended up winning in November by 14.6 points.)

Cygnal was also active in North Carolina in 2022’s Senate race.  In mid-October, they produced a survey showing Budd ahead of Beasley by 4 points.  (Budd ended up winning by 3.2 points.)

Looks pretty good to me.

I have a grand idea for Mr. Whatley.  If he truly believes that all 30 polls released publicly on this race are off, he should produce at least ONE for us that shows him ahead of Roy Cooper or at least nipping at his heels. (Five to eight points behind is not *nipping at the heels*. ) He’s got enough money to poll. I KNOW his campaign has done internal polling. 

Personally, I don’t think he can do it.

I am no Roy Cooper fan.  I hate the idea that he might get promoted to the US Senate.  He is a well-managed but weak candidate who has thrived by facing even weaker opposition election after election.

Stop making excuses and give us something to FIGHT FOR and VOTE FOR.