Is McCrory ducking no-tax pledge?

Will Republican Pat McCrory pledge not to raise taxes if he's elected governor?

You would think it's a political no-brainer, but maybe not.

Last week, national Republicans and the McCrory campaign jumped on their opponent, Democrat Walter Dalton, for declining to pledge not to raise any taxes under any circumstances. But when asked whether they would make that pledge, the McCrory campaign wouldn't be pinned down.

On July 24, the McCrory campaign and the Republican Governors Association separately trumpeted a quote from Dalton's interview with WECT in Wilmington. Asked by the station's Jon Evans whether he could promise not to raise taxes as governor, Dalton said: "No, I would not make that type of promise." He went on to list some taxes he voted to cut when he was in the state Senate, then acknowledged, "I have voted to increase some taxes. I think you have to look at where you are in time and what can happen." (You can watch the clip here.)

Music to the McCrory campaign's ears, and they promptly made an online ad using Dalton's quote.

So I asked the McCrory campaign if this meant that McCrory would pledge not to raise taxes as governor.

Press Secretary Ricky Diaz responded: "Unlike Lt. Governor Dalton, Pat has outlined his economic vision for the state and he calls for tax relief and tax reform, not tax increases. Pat also disagrees with Lt. Governor Dalton's proposed plan to continue Governor Perdue's never-ending 'temporary' tax increase."

Not exactly yes or no on whether McCrory would rule out any tax increases. So I asked again. Diaz and the campaign never responded in the week since.

Making a blanket pledge against raising taxes regardless of what comes an executive's way is bad policy -- not to mention politically dicey. Just ask the first President George Bush. McCrory himself, of course, championed a half-cent sales tax increase for light rail as mayor. Regardless, if you're not willing to make the pledge, then it's hypocritical to hit your opponent for doing the same thing.

-- Taylor Batten