Will endorsements help Perdue?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:52:42 -0500

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue is winning the endorsements race.

But will that help her win the Democratic gubernatorial nomination? UNC-Charlotte Professor Ted Arrington is doubtful.

"They don't matter to voters," he told Dome. "A voter rarely votes for a candidate because they've been endorsed. None of these groups have a wide enough membership to make a difference. And there's not a lot of proof that members follow the endorsement."

Of the endorsements announced so far, Arrington said the N.C. Association of Educators is the most significant because it was ratified by the general membership and because of the group's expertise in education.

He was less impressed by EMILY's List and the National Women's Political Caucus, which would be expected to endorse the female candidate, and the National Association of Social Workers and the United Transportation Union, which don't have a lot of clout.

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Will endorsements help Perdue?