? ?You can feel the momentum,? says Beverly Perdue at a rally in Charlotte, predicting the defeat of Pat McCrory on his own home turf. Salisbury Mayor Susan Kluttz is among the politicians headlining a ?Democrats for McCrory? group. The gubernatorial candidates discuss their views on teacher pay and other education issues with the Associated Press. The Wall Street Journal profiles the race, suggesting that McCrory must leap two big hurdles ? an adverse political climate this year and a history of successful Democratic candidacies for governor.
? A Civitas Institute poll of likely voters in Southeastern NC finds McCain leading Obama by 7 points, Hagan leading Dole by 6, and Perdue leading McCrory by 3. The four-county region also has two spirited NC Senate races, with Julia Boseman leading Michael Lee 49-37 and R.C. Soles leading Bettie Fennell by 43-33. The latter result is actually a sign of trouble for Soles, the longtime incumbent.