Rival Candidates to Put Down Talking Points, Pick Up Hammers

CHARLOTTE – While just about everything seems to have a political element to it these days (because government affects our lives so much), there comes a time when even rival political candidates feel the need to stop campaigning and join together to help those in need. The extraordinary circumstances emanating from the wind and rains of Hurricane Florence have made clear that communities are bipartisan when it comes to doing the right thing, at least for a little while.

“Rival candidates will observe an unusual truce next week in their election battles.

They’ll take part in what Habitat Charlotte is calling its first Bipartisan Build.

More than two dozen candidates are expected to work on a house in west Charlotte Wednesday afternoon. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., they’ll put up drywall in a home under construction off West Boulevard.”

Those participating include congressional rivals Mark Harris and Dan Mcready, as well as a slue of State House incumbents from Charlotte area districts, and their rivals.

While helping to build this housing will undoubtedly benefit those who eventually move in, cynics may argue that it is little more than a bipartisan publicity stunt that, due to its nature, is very difficult to say no to politically.

Even so, the unified front to help those in need is a good vibe for such a hard time in North Carolina.

Read more from the Charlotte Observer about the candidates participating here.