Word: hunt
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...sense, the head-on collision between the state's two most powerful politicians is a clash of the New South vs. the Old. Hunt, 46, is a consensus seeker and problem solver. Though he has little flair for oratory and not much of a sense of humor, his following ranges from impoverished blacks to progressive educators and white businessmen struggling for economic growth. Even Republicans concede that Hunt has run the state well, attracting $13 billion in new business investment, adding 207,000 new jobs, improving roads and schools...
Both Helms and Hunt support a sustained military buildup, the MX missile and B-l bomber and stronger conventional forces. They oppose a nuclear freeze. Both back a constitutional amendment to permit spoken prayer in public schools...
...more peripheral and personal matters, however, the campaign is downright nasty. "We knew it would be hateful and mean and expensive," says Betty McCain, Hunt's campaign chairwoman. Helms began a TV, radio and mail attack more than a year ago. It accuses Hunt of waffling on issues and tries to goad him into taking a stand for or against the presidential candidacy of Jesse Jackson. Hunt, wisely, has not yet done so, since he would lose votes no matter what position he took. Helms' aim is to portray Hunt as a tool of out-of-state liberals...
...Hunt has responded with a smaller, lower-key ad and mail drive. It cites Helms' votes against restoring minimum Social Security benefits, tax credits for the elderly and larger tax cuts for the middle class. One TV spot claimed that about 75% of the campaign funds Helms raised last year came from out-of-state sources. In fact, both campaigns have attracted large donations from a variety of nation-wide groups, based mainly on their strong sentiments for or against Helms...
...Senator's negative campaigning seems to be working. While statewide polls showed Hunt leading Helms by 20 percentage points last October, the most recent polls place them in a virtual tie, although a crucial 10% are undecided. The polls also show that 36% of the state's Democrats, who outnumber Republicans 3 to 1, say they may vote for Helms. "Helms caught Hunt off guard," contends University of North Carolina Political Scientist Merle Black. "Hunt needs to confront Helms on these misrepresentations, which are a modern version of the old whisper campaigns...