? Addressing a GOP rally in Hendersonville, Pat McCrory answers Beverly Perdue’s charges on taxes and regional disparities while emphasizing his “culture of corruption” message. Completing his endorsement march through the major newspapers, McCrory gets the nod from the Raleigh News & Observer, a truly amazing outcome. However, Perdue gets the endorsement of the Wilmington Star News. She is among an historic field of female candidates for NC offices. The NC race is one of the most-competitive gubernatorial campaigns in the country this year.
? The national media write up Kay Hagan’s role in a possible 60-seat Democratic majority in the Senate. Elizabeth Dole campaigns again in Jacksonville, emphasizing taxes, immigration, and military issues. In New Bern, she explains her opposition to the financial bailout and support for offshore drilling. The Republican Party targets Hagan on the gay-marriage issue. Dole is among several GOP candidates to argue explicitly that voters shouldn’t give a President Obama a ?blank check? by voting Democratic for Senate.
? In a turnabout, NC Democrats are hoping to ride the coattails of their presidential ticket to large gains in state legislative races, while NC Republicans think that McCrory’s campaign might sweep some other GOP candidates into office.
? In the lieutenant governor’s race, Robert Pittenger goes after Walter Dalton’s record on the state budget and taxes.
