Last week Gov. Bev Perdue said she “will go to bed every night hoping to get every red cent back that Dell has received.” Now state officials say they will recover only about $1.5 million of the $8.5 million provided in economic incentives to Dell.

The thought of the governor going to bed every night with hope unfulfilled is heartbreaking.

Meanwhile, Civitas tax policy analyst Brian Balfour weighs in on Dell in today’s N&R.