Several North Carolina gubernatorial candidates will be speaking tonight at the annual dinner of the N.C. Agribusiness Council.
Those who have accepted the invitation are state Sen. Fred Smith and former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr, both Republicans, and state Treasurer Richard Moore, a Democrat. It was not clear whether Salisbury attorney Bill Graham would attend.
Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, a Democrat, was not invited because she has not yet declared her candidacy.
Also scheduled to speak at the event at the North Raleigh Hilton are U.S. Reps. Bob Etheridge of Lillington and Virginia Foxx of Watauga County and state Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.
Update: State Sen. Walter Dalton, a Rutherfordton Democrat who is running for lieutenant governor, is also scheduled to speak.
