UPDATE:  Well, dear Nathan lost, getting roughly 32% of the vote, compared to Brunstetter’s 44%.  He’s a two-time loser now, having lost his bid for NC Congress in 2004 (Note to Nathan: you can take down these websites after a couple of years).

Now he can go back to preachy moralizing in the rightwing press, which is his natural calling anyway.

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE:  As I wrote below, Nathan got himself into trouble when he made a campaign promise that he would "never, ever help elect a Democrat."  Nathan’s blind partisanship turned off Republican voters who, even in rural NC, are adult enough to recognize that ideas are what matter, not unrelenting faith to one political party over another.

Sore loser Nathan didn’t get the message.  His Nathan Tabor for Senate website carries this terse message: "I look forward to working with conservatives and Republicans to advance our agenda." (emphasis mine).

Sadly Nathan, the voters have spoken and you’re not going to be working with anybody.  But I think you need to listen to what they are saying — they need someone who can work with everybody.  Partisanship was your downfall.

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Today is primary day in NC.  In my district, three Republicans are vying for an open State Senate seat — one of them being nationally syndicated columnist and religious conservative Nathan Tabor (who we often satirize on this site).  There is no Democrat running, so whoever wins here, goes to Raleigh.

Nathan reportedly used $38,000 of his own (and family’s) money, and his yard signs are plastered everywhere on my way to/from work.  It would be a shame if he lost his bid — again.  Heh.

Sadly (no, not really), Nathan seems to have put his foot in it when he was quoted recently as saying:

"I give you my word: I will never, ever help elect a Democrat."

The responses in the local letters-to-the-editor, mostly from Republicans and Independents, say it all:

About your April 19 story, "Brunstetter-Joines tie is an issue in the 31st": So Nathan Tabor’s opponent, Pete Brunstetter, actually joined forces with Mayor Allen Joines, a Democrat, to reach the common goal of bringing business to the Triad. Imagine that! I do believe that tells us that Tabor does not understand the word "compromise." That makes him just another run-of-the-mill politician, bought and paid for before he even gets to office. DEBBIE ANDERSON LOCKE, Winston-Salem

*****

In the April 19 Journal, Nathan Tabor is quoted as saying, "I give you my word: I will never, ever help elect a Democrat." ("Brunstetter-Joines tie is an issue in the 31st.") Tabor is showing his immaturity. This country would be far better off if people voted for the best candidates with the best ideas and not merely along party lines. MARY PAT O’BRIEN, Clemmons

*****

How small minded of candidate Nathan Tabor to criticize Pete Brunstetter’s support of Mayor Allen Joines ("Brunstetter-Joines tie …" April 19). How could any open-minded and fair citizen make a sweeping statement that he will not vote for someone just because of a party affiliation – regardless of competency?

I have been a lifelong Republican and gladly voted for Mayor Allen Joines, both times. Is Nathan Tabor saying that he thinks the former Republican mayor, who pledged allegiance to the Confederate flag just after being elected, was a better candidate? I don’t think so.

I want a senator in Raleigh who does the right thing for Forsyth County regardless of who he or she has to work with or vote with. That is the American way. J.D. BROCK, Winston-Salem

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I was just wondering if Nathan Tabor would stick true to his word about never helping a Democrat be elected if Jesus Christ came back to North Carolina and ran for public office as a Democrat? BILL DINKINS, Winston-Salem

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…It is disturbing that Tabor is unaware of all the serious issues that the average citizen is dealing with at this time. He must be in an ivory tower where he does not hear about the lack of health care and loss of jobs. Maybe he just chooses to focus on hot-button moral issues that get attention that neither he nor anyone else can legislate.

Tabor makes promises to never raise taxes and never support a Democrat. How sad. I am a Republican, and I fear a politician who displays immaturity and shortsightedness by making reckless promises when he can’t predict the future. LINDA M. HICKS, Madison

*****

It was distressing to read Nathan Tabor’s quote, "I give you my word: I will never, ever help elect a Democrat" ("Brunstetter-Joines tie," April 19). I do believe that the Republican Party better represents my beliefs, but extremists on both sides of the political spectrum are, in my opinion, the main problem with our political process.

I sincerely hope, Republican or Democrat, we the people are bright enough and lucky enough to get the best person for the office… GREG A. ELLER, Winston-Salem

*****

Having given considerable thought to the primary on May 2, I’ve decided for whom I will not vote: Nathan Tabor. He seems to be a guy who needs work that is not too difficult. Perhaps he is another John Edwards, all mouth and no action. Were it not for hot-button issues, he would be unable to mount a campaign. Truly, should he be the only candidate on my ballot, I would write in "Mickey Mouse." GARY V. SMITH, Walkertown

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Nathan Tabor enjoys using the wedge issues of God, guns and gays in an effort to win the Republican nomination for state Senate. Tabor pledges to fight to allow prayer in the public schools. Kids can privately pray in school anytime they want – and as the old joke goes, I am sure they do before every algebra test.

The public schools are not the proper place for the teaching and promotion of religion. The proper place is in the home and in the churches chosen by children’s parents and guardians.

On the issue of gun control, why is it that gun crime is much more prevalent in the United States than in Canada or Western Europe? Could the reason be that Canada and Western Europe have strict gun-control laws? The Republican whom Tabor needs to emulate in the gun-control debate is Jim Brady, not Charlton Heston.

Tabor laments the attack on traditional marriage. What attack? If Bob and John get married, what harmful effect does that have on society? Crime and divorce rates are much lower in Massachusetts than in North Carolina.

I hope Forsyth Republicans will reject Tabor’s wedge-issue politics. RUDY DIAMOND, Lewisville

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…Tabor is in favor of a "stream-lined program to deport illegal aliens," according to his Web site. How will Tabor accomplish deporting some 11 million illegal immigrants out of this country? He doesn’t say. In 1942, the federal government incarcerated 112,000 Japanese-Americans, 70,000 of whom were U.S. citizens. Tabor wants to round up and deport 11 million people whose only "crime" was to seek a better life for their children.

Tabor bills himself as a Jesse Helms. I voted for Jesse Helms. I worked for his campaigns as a precinct captain and as co-chair of Educators for Helms. I met Sen. Helms several times. Nathan Tabor is no Jesse Helms. MIKE STREICH, Winston-Salem

*****

Elected leaders and aspiring ones, such as Rep. Virginia Foxx and Nathan Tabor, who are more reminiscent of George Wallace than of John F. Kennedy, would take us down a road of arrogance and hostility in the name of righteousness. DAVID KING, Kernersville

*****

So Nathan Tabor has promised, no matter what, to never raise taxes. Never? No matter what? That’s an easy promise to make when one has never dealt with a real government budget. Even George H.W. Bush had to raise taxes a little. I appreciate the sentiment, but do we really want a representative who ties one hand behind his back before he even gets started?

…By the way, I hate to be a spoilsport, but fighting illegal immigration as ardently as Tabor would like would certainly require raising taxes. Someone will have to pay for deportation, that fence and the border patrol. GEORGE G. GOOD, Winston-Salem

But, in the interest of fairness, here’s a positive Letter-To-The-Editor about Nathan:

The election for the 31st Senate District is extremely important. While there are three good candidates running in the primary, I believe one stands out very quickly, and that is Nathan Tabor. Nathan is more passionate, more articulate and more energetic, clearly a man in his element in the political process. He is the candidate who can be a completely full-time senator for our district. He will devote all his time to the needs of Forsyth County, North Carolina and the conservative cause. His business experience, technological skill and work ethic can take this Senate office to higher levels of service for our district.

Our citizens demand and deserve someone in Raleigh who will stand up for us. In the face of political scandals, the squandering of our tax dollars, rampant spending, increased taxes, illegal immigrants, educational shortcomings, same-sex marriage and other issues, Nathan is the man who will stand firm and address them. He has compassion for the taxpayers and is an honest man who will hold for what is right and not back down. Let’s send Nathan to Raleigh to speak for us. I know him. He’ll not let us down.

The author of that glowing endorsement?  "MICHAEL W. ZIGLAR, TREASURER, TABOR FOR SENATE, Winston-Salem"

Official election results are here, but not until polls close.