He has to flesh out his agenda for the state, select a team to help enact that agenda, and deal with a possible budget shortfall. Many believe that Easley must follow the Jim Hunt model to succeed pick one or two big issues and work at all costs to enact them.
Education tops the chart of voter concerns at all levels.
Easley s issues reflect that concern and are extremely popular. Moreover, these initiatives have some track record of success. Most observers, however, mistakenly believe that the shortage of money is the only barrier to enacting this agenda. It is true that Easley faces a budget shortfall. His likely proposed method of financing his education agenda, through a state lottery, is by no means a slam dunk in the General Assembly.