Paul Begala told TPM Monday he’s happy to see President Obama’s campaign committed to winning North Carolina following his appearance on CNN Monday, where he said the president was no longer playing for the state.
“I have no contact with the Obama campaign, and I am glad to hear [Obama campaign manager Jim] Messina say they’re fighting on in NC,” Begala said in an email. “Happy to be proved wrong.”
Republicans gleefully emailed around a clip of Begala — who is both an analyst at CNN and a top adviser to the super PAC supporting Obama’s reelection — telling Wolf Blitzer that North Carolina had been taken off the Obama map.
“I’m not supposed to say that,” Begala told Blitzer. “But I [work] for the pro-Obama super PAC, so I’m being paid to help reelect the president. But if you look at where he’s spending money, it looks like Gov. Romney is likely to carry North Carolina.”
Messina said Begala was mistaken in a tweet following the CNN quote.
Lots of chatter we’re giving up on NC. Simply not true. Just look at voter reg and early vote. #intowin
— Jim Messina (@Messina2012) October 22, 2012
A Democratic strategist noted spending in support of Mitt Romney (including Romney campaign, RNC and third party spending) has totalled about $7 million in North Carolina media over the last three weeks and the pro-Romney groups “are scheduled to spend lots more in the next two weeks.”
