First Shot Is Fired in Battle for Chair of N.C. Dems

Jim Long, the popular state Insurance Commissioner, has opened the first howling hole in Mike Easley's ability to dictate the next chair of the state's Democratic Party. Long has written a letter to the 570 members of the state's Executive Committee advocating for Jerry Meek as the next chair. Long's reasons for picking Meek focus on rejuvenating the party from the precinct level up, which he thinks Meek will emphasize, vs. the "national connections" that Easley's pick Ed Turlington has.

Jim Long is exactly right.