Merry Christmas and Happiest of Holy Days from Wayne's World!

This year has been most interesting and a true whirlwind: Lots of unexpected political and personal events in the 8th District, throughout North Carolina, and in the presidential contest. Of course, much more important for us than the Insurance Commissioner's race, Melanie and I were blessed by the birth of our son immediately before the primary election; and, Madison began first grade and has had a successful school year thus far.

The remaining days of the year will disappear quickly. And because we'll be busy with family and transition to the new post, here is our blog's seasonal greetings:

Wayne's World and the Goodwin Family wish everyone a safe, merry, and prosperous Christmas. May we all enjoy the happiness and peace and security we need and deserve, not just during these holy days of 2008 but on into the new year.

Pictured here, at the close of a recent holiday party, are: Melanie and Madison, with Jackson enjoying his evening dinner bottle while in his Dad's lap.

A Post-Election Primer on the Successful Public Financing of the NC Insurance Commissioner race: Crossposted Interview with Wayne Goodwin

Betsy Muse, one of my BlueNC blogger friends, today posted her interview about my views on the public financing of my Insurance Commissioner campaign.

Reading it as objectively as I can when one is also the interviewee, her interview is certainly an informative piece about the pilot program and how it affected the 2008 Insurance Commissioner's race. To read it yourself and Betsy's on-target questions, merely click right here and you'll be magically transported to it.

Coincidentally, today editors of the Raleigh News & Observer published its primary editorial in support of public financing of political campaigns. In essence, they wrote that such programs are "proving their worth" and specifically cited how well the program functioned in the Insurance Commissioner's race. Read the full editorial by clicking this link here.

Your comments on this subject are welcome both at Wayne's World and at BlueNC.

Raleigh N&O, Greenville Reflector Endorse Goodwin; Candidate to Return to 8th District on Monday

In the waning days before Election 2008 comes to a close, the Goodwin for Insurance Commissioner campaign has received several more key newspaper endorsements.

The Raleigh News & Observer published its endorsement today. The link is here.

Several days ago the Greenville Reflector did the same. Read it here.

A sampling of additional newspapers that have endorsed the Goodwin campaign are here at this link.

The Democratic nominee for Insurance Commissioner returns to his home Congressional District - the Eighth - on Monday for Election Eve. Joining him will likely be several other candidates on the statewide ballot.

Goodwin Endorsements for NC Insurance Commissioner Mounting By the Day

Since receiving the "enthusiastic" endorsement of the Charlotte Observer recently, Insurance Commissioner candidate Wayne Goodwin has additional formal endorsements that have come his way.

The latest endorsements have come from the Greensboro News & Record, The Independent Weekly, the Winston-Salem Chronicle, the North Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, the Spring Hope Enterprise, Bailey News, Raleigh-Wake County Association, the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, People's Alliance, and the NC Police Benevolent Association.

"I sincerely appreciate the endorsements by community organizations and media leaders. They each studied the backgrounds and proposals of the various candidates, and determined that I'm the only candidate for Insurance Commissioner with relevant experience for this very complex, very important job," said Wayne Goodwin.

Goodwin is the Democratic Party nominee for the office, and presently serves as Assistant Insurance Commissioner. To learn more about his candidacy and the complete list of endorsements from all over North Carolina, go to his website at www.WayneGoodwin.org.

Goodwin Momentum Continues: Maintains Lead in Polls

Public Policy Polling released its most recent Council of State polling results yesterday. You may link to them here at this link.

The bottom line: the Wayne Goodwin for Insurance Commissioner campaign has forward momentum at this key time in the election, presently with a 10 point lead with fewer than 19 days to go until November 4th.

One must remember, though, that a week - let alone 2-1/2 weeks - are a lifetime in politics. "I'm not letting my foot off the gas pedal until the polls close," said Goodwin.

Charlotte Observer Endorses Goodwin for NC Insurance Commissioner!

The Charlotte Observer "enthusiastically" endorsed Wayne Goodwin for NC Insurance Commissioner in yesterday's issue.

Specifically, it said:

Voters in the race for commissioner of insurance have a clear choice. ... [F]ormer state Rep. Wayne Goodwin, a lawyer. He has worked to improve public schools and workplace safety, and to reform the political process. He has performed well as assistant commissioner of insurance under the outgoing incumbent, Jim Long. Goodwin's understanding of the complicated insurance laws, his commitment to adequate regulation of insurance companies and his personal concern for firefighters and first responders overseen by the insurance department make him the better choice. The Observer enthusiastically recommends Wayne Goodwin for insurance commissioner.

The Observer also supported Goodwin during the primary election earlier this year.

In response, Goodwin said "I greatly appreciate the Charlotte Observer's endorsement for the general election. Its support is personally both humbling and inspiring at the same time. Working together with fellow North Carolinians, we will weather this economic storm and champion affordable insurance rates, a competitive insurance market, stable and competent leadership in the Insurance Commissioner's office, and consumer protection."

Eighth District's Goodwin Sees His Lead Grow for NC Insurance Commissioner in Two Independent Polls

The Eighth Congressional District's past chairman has taken his largest lead yet in the race for North Carolina Insurance Commissioner.

Wayne Goodwin sees the numbers as evidence of many months of hard work meeting at least 500 new voters a week and contacting thousands more weekly by mail, by email, and through surrogates. "Now is the time when all of my grassroots campaigning will start to bear fruit," he said. Goodwin is currently North Carolina's Assistant Insurance Commissioner and the Democratic Party candidate seeking to succeed incumbent Jim Long.

With less than 44 days until Election 2008 concludes, the trend in Statewide polling for this and other Council of State offices has been favorable for Democratic candidates. (For the poll summary from the pollster's related blog, go here.)

On that point, Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling said, "Incumbent Democrats and those in open seats, like (Treasurer candidate Janet) Cowell and (Wayne) Goodwin, should win comfortably."

Even the conservative Civitas poll showed Goodwin in the lead over John Odom, except the gap was even greater: That poll placed Democrat Wayne Goodwin ten points over the inexperienced Odom.

Goodwin isn't taking anything for granted, though. In fact, his schedule will "ramp up" this week and will continue at a frenetic pace through November 4th. "These poll numbers are a snapshot. To build on that snapshot I'm going to work even harder than before to show voters why I'm the only qualified candidate running for Insurance Commissioner," he said.

Observers from across the political spectrum - Democrats, Republicans, and Unaffiliated voters - say that there is just too much at stake with the complex job of Insurance Commissioner to allow any other candidate for Insurance Commissioner to prevail. These same observers point out that the Republican candidate owns three muffler shops and has no actual experience or knowledge of the office of Insurance Commissioner.

For more information about the campaign, go to www.WayneGoodwin.org.