After Republicans publicly worried earlier this week about Congressman Budd’s chances in the U.S. Senate race and former Governor Pat McCrory accused Budd of “hiding,” the News & Observer Editorial Board is calling out Budd for his “quiet” campaign that “makes little noise or news” besides pushing out of step positions. ”

Key Point: “The problem is that a campaign based on passively riding a favorable tide gets in trouble when the currents shift. And in the last several months the currents have shifted against Budd and most Republicans.”

News & Observer: Where’s Ted? The Budd Senate campaign quietly rides his Trump endorsement

• Republican North Carolina Rep. Ted Budd opened his U.S. Senate bid in April, 2021 with a video of a roaring monster truck rolling over a pile of old cars identified as “the liberal agenda.” But ever since then, Budd’s campaign has sounded more like an electric car.

• Budd’s strong pro-life stance wins him favor among conservatives, but the overturning of Roe v. Wade has made that position a liability among some women who might have otherwise supported him and the ruling may bring out more Democratic voters.

• If he loses, it may well be because he never did take the wheel of that monster truck to steer a real campaign of his own. Instead he opted to be towed to November by Trump, who broke down along the way.

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