Ilario Pantano posts decisive victory in GOP primary; Breazeale vows to deny his support to winner

“In the end,” said one of Ilario Pantano’s key campaign organizers, “it all came down to character.”

That’s the way Ed Gibson summed up the decisive win posted by Pantano in the GOP primary for North Carolina’s Seventh Congressional District.

With a wide margin of victory, Pantano should enter the general election against incumbent Mike McIntyre with momentum and confidence.

Gibson, one of a crowd of supporters and volunteers for the Pantano campaign, was on hand for what became a victory celebration at the Fox and Hound Pub and Restaurant in Wilmington’s Mayfaire complex.

Gibson was excited but philosophical as he sorted out what he saw as the key to the Pantano campaign.

“ I think the public and the voters are sick and tired of these personal attack type of campaigns. I really do. I think they want to see someone who is going to stand up, with the character that they want in a congressman,” he said.

Pantano, who celebrated with his family – wife Jill and their two young sons – was gracious in victory.

“We’ve been blessed. We have a very dedicated team of volunteers, young and old. You’ve seen children out here, teen-agers, seniors, working for our candidacy. We had a gentleman who rubbed the skin off of his fingers putting in over 40 yard signs in the span of two hours. So we’ve seen a level of dedication that’s exciting. That’s what it takes at the end of the day – men and women out there with one-to-one contact with voters, engaging them, delivering our message.”

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