N.C. delegation short on sizzle, fizzle, clout

North Carolina's congressional delegation didn't fare well in a power ranking.

The fourth annual report by technology consulting firm Knowlegis on congressional power was based on leadership positions, indirect influence, legislative activity and earmarks. Scores were also weighted with a "Sizzle/Fizzle" factor.

The average score of North Carolina's delegation was 17.07, giving the state a rank of 44th.

Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr scored 18.94, ranking 69th in the Senate, while Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole scored 13.39, ranking 93rd. (Burr's rank within his own party, 27th, was highest of Tar Heel pols.)

As members of the majority party, Democrats tended to fare better than Republicans. In the House, Democratic Rep. Mel Watt of Charlotte scored 32.75, ranking 53rd; Democratic Rep. David Price of Chapel Hill scored 30.16, ranking 67th.

The least influential were Republican Rep. Robin Hayes of Concord, who scored 9.56 and ranked 360th; and Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx of Banner Elk, who scored 6.49 and ranked 399th.

No one in the North Carolina delegation received either "sizzle" or "fizzle" points.

Nader needs names

Supporters of Ralph Nader have a tough road ahead.

Under state law, they will have to get the signatures of 2 percent of the number of people who voted in the last gubernatorial election -- or 69,734 people -- to get him on the ballot as an unaffiliated candidate for president.

Each signature must come from a registered voter. In addition, at least 200 of those voters must be from four congressional districts.

The signatures must be verified by the county boards of election where each voter is registered and then presented to the State Board of Elections by noon on June 27.

Nader could also run as a write-in candidate, which requires only 500 signatures from registered voters, but his name wouldn't appear on the ballot, which reduces the chances of garnering significant support.

In the 2004 election, Nader got 1,805 votes in North Carolina, or half of a tenth of a percent of the total, as a write-in candidate. He was not on the 2000 ballot.

Moore endorses Obama

State Treasurer Richard Moore has endorsed Barack Obama.

According to a Feb. 23 item in The Charlotte Observer that Dome missed earlier, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate has endorsed Obama for president. In addition, his wife, Noel, gave the campaign $2,300.

Moore's opponent in the Democratic primary, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, is remaining neutral.

"Like a lot of us, she's proud that we have two great candidates running," Perdue spokesman David Kochman told the paper. "But [she's] focused on her own race right now."

Light rail: It works for them

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory says light rail isn't for everyone.

The Republican gubernatorial candidate told Dome in a recent interview that the Lynx Blue Line in Charlotte has been a success, but he doesn't think every part of the state needs -- or wants -- its own rail-based transit.

"It's not suited for all parts of our state or even all parts of the city," he said. He would not say whether the Triangle, Greensboro or other North Carolina cities need it, saying that is a local decision.

In some areas, he said, light rail can help promote economic development, give residents an alternative to congested roads and help the environment.

He defended the Charlotte system against conservative critics by noting that a recent referendum on the sales tax that partially funds it was approved by more than 70 percent of voters.

He also said he didn't decide to back rail by "putting my finger up in the air."

"I did it because of leadership," he said.