We’ve updated our story on Carolina Journal Online about Gov. Bev Perdue’s decision to forego her bid for a second term in office. Lots of speculation about who might compete in the Democratic primary:

Pundits already have floated a number of candidates as replacements for Perdue, most with statewide name recognition, such as Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton. The lieutenant governor’s post is seen as a stepping-stone to the governor’s office.

One name that has cropped up routinely is N.C. Rep. Bill Faison, a Democrat from Orange County, who has been critical of Perdue in recent months and all but launched a campaign to primary her.

“Bill Faison has been secretly campaigning for quite a few months. I’m not sure he is the answer for most Democrats in terms of a strong candidate to face McCrory,” McLennan said. Perdue’s decision “leaves Democrats in disarray,” he said.

Appearing on WPTF-AM radio this morning, Faison said he would make an announcement “fairly soon,” but he stopped short of declaring his candidacy. He was uncharacteristically laudatory of the governor.

“Today is Gov. Perdue’s day,” Faison said, “and I don’t want to do anything that would detract from that.”

Democratic consultant Joe Sinsheimer said the wild card in the primary fight would be whether Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx runs.

“Personally, I think he is the strongest nominee,” Sinsheimer said. “Dalton would suffer from Perdue baggage, because he comes from the same political machine as the governor, and Foxx would be the freshest face.”

Foxx, an African-American, won a second term as mayor of the Queen City in November, taking home two-thirds of the vote compared to his Republican opponent.

Another name being floated as a gubernatorial contender: U.S. Rep. Brad Miller, Democrat of North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District, who announced Wednesday that he won’t seek re-election to Congress. Rumors had circulated that Miller would challenge fellow Democrat David Price to a primary in the 4th Congressional District.

Other names on the short list: Bob Etheridge, former congressman from North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District; Erskine Bowles, former chief of staff to President Clinton and past president of the University of North Carolina system; and Heath Shuler, congressman from North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District.