From the Campaign Trail -- Four Days in WNC

Following a full day of visits and BBQs in both Alexander and Alleghany counties, we spent Friday night in Wilkesboro.  Saturday morning we started the day there with a breakfast meeting with Blake Lovett, Burt Hall, G.T. Johnson and about 60 other people. I listened and talked to those in attendance and shared with them my vision for the future of North Carolina.

 

After breakfast we drove to Hickory and met with a group of businessmen there until around 3:00. 

 

We then drove on to Winston-Salem in Forsyth County to attend a reception with good friends Senator Bill Miller, Senator Pete Brunstetter, Representative Dale Folwell, Representative Bill McGee and many other good GOP friends.   I also spoke to Senator Elizabeth Dole who was at the reception.

 

Following the reception we drove to Iredell County for the Reagan Day Dinner at the Statesville Civic Center where all four GOP candidates for governor spoke and answered questions.  After the dinner, Ginny and I drove to South Charlotte where we spent the night. 

 

The following morning we attended church in South Charlotte where Ginny sang and I spoke.  After church we drove to Spindale in Rutherford County to attend an NAACP event at the New Zion Missionary Baptist Church.  Mike Hagan and Debbie Clary were also there.  Following the event we drove to Hendersonville where we spent the night.

 

Monday morning we got up and enjoyed a beautiful drive through Buncombe, Madison, Yancey and Mitchell counties to Avery County where we had a great luncheon at Carolina BBQ.  Close to 20 people were in attendance including Sheriff Kevin Frye, as well as several county commissioners and other officials.  I enjoyed the listening luncheon where I took questions and comments from the group.  

 

Our next stop was an interview with Bertie Burleson, the Publisher of the Avery Post.  We then proceeded to the Avery Journal for an interview with Eric Jones and Lauren Ohnesorge with WATA radio.  Eric Jones was in attendance at the luncheon earlier as well.

 

Prior to the BBQ, we attended a reception hosted by Steve and Nicole Arnold. Tommy Burleson was there and came along with us to the BBQ.
 
On the way over to the BBQ we estimated that a good crowd would be 100 in attendance. 100 would have been nice, but we were overwhelmed by an outstanding turnout of over 180 energetic Avery County citizens, including many local elected officials.  My speech received an enthusiastic response.  Then, as is customary, Ginny closed the BBQ singing God Bless America.  We stayed a while afterward talking with the people of Avery County and signing books for them before the long drive home to Johnston County, where we arrived around 1:00 a.m. ending our four-day trip to Western North Carolina.  

 

The next stop on the BBQ tour will take us to the other side of the state to Washington and Tyrrell counties on February 25.