We've narrowed the field, and now we’re down to the Sweet 16. All of our one-seeds are still in the game, but there have been some true Cinderella stories, as well. And three matchups ended in a tie, with a coin flip needed to decide the winner. That’s March madness for you.
Jim Hunt and Marc Basnight were always on a collision course, but I did not see seersucker suits and COVID lockdowns making it this far.
Let’s break down the new matchups, then you can cast your votes. We’re moving a little faster in these later rounds, with voting open for one day only.
Power Players Region
(1) Jim Hunt vs. (4) Marc Basnight
Two titans of Democratic power go head-to-head. Hunt shaped the party from the governor’s mansion, while Basnight controlled it from the legislature. One built the system, the other mastered it — who was more dominant?
(2) Jesse Helms vs. (11) The John Locke Foundation
Helms wrote the modern conservative playbook, using attack ads, a national fundraising machine, and populist messag…
