Issues in Focus: Harvey Gantt

Description

Harvey Gantt appears on Issues in Focus, a local program in Cabarrus County. Alex Rankin is the host. Rankin asks Gantt about his experience running against Jesse Helms in 1990. Gantt said that running in 1990 was a great experience and he received a lot of support the first time. Gantt thinks that many of the issues in 1996 are the same as in the 1990 race. He says that North Carolinians are feeling insecure about a lot of things even though they work hard. Gantt comments on Helms's negative campaigning and how his infamous "Hands" ad derailed the campaign at the end of the race. Gantt comments on the power of Republicans in Congress and criticizes Helms for holding ambassorships and treaties hostage to get his way. Gantt talks about how he is a strong candidate to go up against Helms and about campaign financing. Gantt talks more about the "Hands" ad in 1990 and how it appealed to voter's worst fears and made him a scapegoat. Gantt held press conferences in the 1990 campaign to correct the record on his position but it didn't matter because the ad was all over TV. Gantt comments on his primary challenger, Charles Sanders, and says he seems like a gentleman but needs to be politically toughened to run against Helms. Gantt mentions that independents can now vote in the Democratic primary in NC and he will try to appeal to all voters by focusing on education, health care for all Americans, preserving the environment, and protecting the safety net for the vulnerable.

In collections