NEWTON, N.C./InterstateQ.com — Just slightly over three weeks until North Carolina’s highly anticipated May 6 primary, openly gay U.S. Senate candidate and Chapel Hill businessman Jim Neal won a Western North Carolina straw poll on Saturday, Apr. 12, in the 10th District town of Newton.
 U.S. Senate Candidate Jim Neal (right) won a Western N.C. straw poll against his better-funded rival, N.C. State Sen. Kay Hagan (D-Guilford). |
Neal, who has been running neck-and-neck with N.C. State Sen. Kay Hagan (D-Guilford), won the poll 54% to 46%.
“Today’s results show the power of the grassroots. The people in the 10th Congressional District spoke, and their voice is louder than insider money and TV ads. Despite being outspent two to one, our message is getting through. North Carolinians are supporting our movement for a government that works for all the people,” Neal said in an Apr. 13 press release.
The event started at 11 a.m. at the Newton-Conover Civic and Performance Place. Both Neal and Hagan spoke to the crowd.
After the final tally, Neal earned 127 votes to Hagan’s 108.
“Strength for a Democratic candidate in this type of more rural setting is certainly a great indicator of which candidates will fare best in the general election,” District Chairman Tony McEwen said. “For a Democrat to be successful statewide in North Carolina, they not only will have to get support from urban areas but also be able to pick up more conservative voters in rural counties, like you will find in the 10th district.”
Neal has made it a campaign focal point to visit as many communities across the state as possible. His grassroots campaign has been reaching out to voters in far-flung places. The effort, it seems, is paying off.
According to news reports and progressive bloggers, Hagan continues to sidestep questions on issues important to the LGBT community. Her latest LGBT gaffe occurred during a BlueNC.com live blog when she failed to directly answer questions from nationally respected, Durham, N.C.-based blogger Pam Spaulding. Attempts for clarification and follow-up by Spaulding and other community members were ignored.
The latest official poll results continue to show Hagan and Neal in a dead heat.
Other straw poll results from the Newton event include:
- Democratic Presidential Primary: Obama 138, Clinton 109
- N.C. Democratic Gubernatorial Primary: Perdue 129, Moore 115
