State seen as key to election

by Brian Carlton

CORNELIUS – In order to win in November, Republicans need support in North Carolina. National party leaders and officials from three states, as well as local residents, gathered in Cornelius Aug. 4 to kick off "Super Saturday," focusing on building that support.



"This state (will) pave the way to save this country and fire Barack Obama," Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said, speaking before a packed house. Priebus was in Cornelius for the grand opening of the Republican Party’s North Mecklenburg Victory Office, one of several celebrations staged during what party members referred to as "Super Saturday."

Four years ago, a majority of North Carolina voters turned out to support Barack Obama. With polls showing a tight race for the presidency, Republicans hope to swing votes the other way  with this year's election.

Speaking in front of a banner that read "North Carolina stands with Mitt," Priebus accused President Obama of attempting to divert the conversation from the economy. On Friday, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that the economy grew by 163,000 jobs in July, however the jobless rate rose as well, from 8.2 percent in June to 8.3 percent, as more people search for work.

Priebus and other Republicans questioned why Obama’s campaign rolled out a new television ad attacking Romney’s stand on abortion on the same day as the labor department’s report came out.

"This president has a problem with the American dream," Priebus said, questioning why the most successful were seemingly being targeted with the possibility of a tax increase. Congress is currently deadlocked on whether the tax cuts created during the Bush presidency should be allowed to expire or not. Democrats want to keep the cuts for all but the top 2 percent, while Republicans argue for all the cuts to remain.

Overall, the message today was one of party unity. Members of the Republican parties from Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee all pledged to help support the North Carolina effort however possible.