With just a few months left until North Carolina's U.S. Senate primary, two Republican candidates stepped up their attacks on a third endorsed by former President Donald Trump and steadily moving up in the polls.
Former Gov. Pat McCrory and former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker each leveled sharp criticism of U.S. Rep. Ted Budd and the political action committee supporting him at the Moore County Republican Men's Club luncheon Thursday afternoon — a sign they may be growing concerned by his rise, though they say otherwise.
Budd spoke to attendees via video conference because he was in Washington, D.C., for votes, but did not mention other candidates in his speech. He mentioned his most important backer, the former president, only once, in the context of foreign affairs.
McCrory, by contrast, slammed the group backing Budd, which FEC reports show has spent more than $3.5 million in support of Budd and nearly $500,000 in opposition to McCrory. McCrory then called out to Walker from his small stage.
"Ain't that right, Mark?" McCrory asked.
"100 percent," Walker replied from the crowd.
McCrory, a former governor and former Charlotte mayor has led the polls in recent months, according to internal polling from both McCrory's and Budd's campaigns. McCrory's lead is shrinking and Budd's is rising, however, according to those same polls.
Each candidate argues they're the best candidate to beat presumptive Democratic nominee Cheri Beasley, who has somewhat of a head start in fundraising for the general election because other high-profile Democratic candidates have dropped out of the race.
In this swing state, which candidate Republicans elect in the Senate primary could give the GOP an advantage — or disadvantage — in beating Beasley. Whoever wins will play a role in determining which party controls the U.S. Senate for the remaining two years of President Joe Biden's term, helping or hindering his agenda.
"I don't want to move to Washington," McCrory said Thursday. "I'm doing it because the problem is Washington."
Club for Growth's support of Ted Budd
Club For Growth Action, which backed Budd in his 2016 U.S. House race, has committed to spending $10 million to support Budd's election to the Senate.
The political action committee says it is dedicated to "defeating big-government politicians and replacing them with pro-growth, limited government conservatives."
It's spent millions already for ads touting Trump's endorsement of Budd and for ads critical of McCrory. It also sent out a full-color mailer attacking McCrory.
"They're throwing ads out there that are the most deceptive, deceiving ads. You ought to, if you get a mail out, put it in the fireplace. It's full of lies," McCrory said.
Budd's campaign pushed back on that.
"Since 2016, Governor Pat McCrory has failed to support President Trump's America-First Agenda," Budd senior advisor Jonathan Felts said in a text. "Now he's being held accountable for it, and like the thin-skinned, professional politician he is, Governor McCrory doesn't like to be held accountable for his mistakes."
Mark Walker's next steps
Walker, who has been running third in the polls and is considering running for U.S. House, also used part of his speech to go after Budd directly — for his vote on the farm bill, his response to a question about the 2020 election and his support from Club For Growth.
"This is the voting card given to every member of the US Congress," Walker said, holding his up to show the crowd. "Somebody spends $6 (million) or $7 million on you, who owns that voting card? Do you? Or those people that tell you?"
Walker said he would announce his decision on staying in the Senate race or moving to a U.S. House race Monday. Trump said he would endorse Walker if he switched races, The News & Observer previously reported.
If Walker does that, Budd may have a better chance at beating McCrory, since some Trump supporters may be split on voting for Walker or Budd.
Marjorie Eastman, a combat veteran and first-time candidate, also spoke at the event Thursday. The Moore County Republican Men's Club invited the four top fundraisers in the Senate race to attend.
The primary was originally set for March 8, but the state Supreme Court moved it to May 17. State lawmakers voted this week to push the primary to June 7, but Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper could veto the bill.
