Our state’s motto is esse quam videri, a quote from the Roman politician and philosopher Cicero, which translates out as “to be, rather than to seem”. It’s a noble ideal for our state, a declaration that we’re a place where our actions and values matter more than perceptions.
But unfortunately, in politics, sometimes perception is what matters the most.
John, I’ll be blunt: what we do over the next seven days will determine the perception of our campaign for the next six months.
I’ve emailed you before about the importance of our monthly fundraising deadlined, but the one coming up on June 30th is the granddaddy of them all. In one week, we’ll hit the first reporting deadline of this race—the clock will strike midnight, the calendar will tick over to August 1st, and we’ll get our report in order to let the whole world know exactly how much we’ve raised, how much we’ve spent, and where the money came from.
And then we won’t get another chance to report our finances until the end of the year.
If we post a strong finance report, it will show everyone—donors, voters, PACs, endorsers, and the GOP—that we’re running a strong fundraising operation. You and I know that the strength of our campaign is about more than just raising money, but that’s the metric that matters to all of the folks who are watching and waiting to see how we do.
But if we fall short, well, then we won’t get an opportunity to correct that perception for another six months. That’s a long time in the world of politics.
John, that’s why I’m asking you to step up today. You and I know that our movement to invest in our people and bring opportunity to every North Carolinian is going to change our state—but perception is everything in politics, and it couldn’t be more critical that we finish out this month with strong finances. Can I count on you to chip in and show North Carolina that we mean business?
