Phil Berger, Fundraising Himself Right Out of the Senate?

 

Rockingham Co. Sheriff Sam Page

There's a North Carolina campaign report deadline next week, but Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger didn't wait. He was too proud to report a 6-month haul of $1.7 million in campaign cash. He's likely going to need a lot of that to get past Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page's primary challenge.

“Clearly he’s behaving as if he’s feeling pressure,” said Chris Cooper, a Western Carolina University political scientist who specializes in North Carolina politics. “He’s announcing endorsements well over a year before the primary. He’s been aggressive on social media going after Sam Page. He wouldn’t be doing that if Sam Page wasn't a threat.”

Meanwhile, Sheriff Page, who likes to sport a cowboy hat, has only a few thousand dollars in his campaign account and appears quite relaxed about it. Page is probably right about this: 

"This Senate race will not be won by the millions of dollars from big donors," he said. "Instead this Senate race will be won by the personal relationships that have been established for my more than 27 years while serving my community and my country as the Sheriff of Rockingham County."

If indeed Phil Berger's power palace in Raleigh has caused him to lose touch with his constituents, Sheriff Page's decades-long popularity in office will be a huge boost and perhaps enough to make Berger's millions a liability.