Tucker Carlson and Guy Benson speak out against Kay Hagan in Greensboro

Sept. 23--GREENSBORO - Two conservative pundits headlined an Americans for Prosperity event here Tuesday night.

Television commentators Tucker Carlson, a former host of CNN's "Crossfire," and Guy Benson, political editor for Townhall.com, talked to a crowd of about 40 people at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center.

It was the third stop on the conservative political advocacy group's "Call out Kay" tour, opposing incumbent U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan and her support of things like the federal health care reform.

Democrat Hagan is in a tight race with Republican Thom Tillis, speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives. Libertarian Sean Haugh is also seeking Hagan's Senate seat.

Americans for Prosperity doesn't endorse candidates. But it was clear this wasn't Hagan's crowd. Some folks donned "Hagan hurts NC" T-shirts.

Donald Bryson, the Americans for Prosperity North Carolina state director, laid out the importance of the Hagan-Tillis race. It's among the states that he said could help deliver the U.S. Senate to Republican control.

"North Carolina is the only one where it looks like the Democratic incumbent has a modest lead," Benson said.

But, he added, "There's a lot of time between now and Nov. 4. It's up to you guys to decide how to hold (Hagan) accountable."

Carlson, now editor-in-chief of The Daily Caller, a conservative news website, blamed the shifting demographics of the country on the popularity of Democrats like President Barack Obama.

Fewer married people, more immigrants and fewer religious devotees mean more votes for Democrats, Carlson said.

"The president understands if he does nothing, the country will come around to his view" as those demographics shift, Carlson said.

Isn't there anything conservatives can do to change that, audience members asked?

"The only thing that ever fixes people is fear," Carlson said.

Carlson and Benson also chatted about the 2016 presidential race. Carlson said he didn't think Hilary Clinton was liberal enough to get the Democrat nomination.

Carlson said he thought Ben Carson -- a pediatric surgeon and a rising star in conservative circles -- was an impressive guy. But he hopes he doesn't run.

"He will get eaten if he runs for president," Carlson said.

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