The state's first couple were much in the news this week.

The most-read posts on Under the Dome from last Sunday to noon Friday touched on the activities Gov. Mike Easley and his wife. Also, a certain fictional sheriff and the presidential candidates he may or may not have supported.

1. Hail Mary: N.C. State University gives First Lady Mary Easley a promotion and a $79,000 raise. Or, about one and a half trips to Estonia.

2. McCarolina?: Republican presidential nominee John McCain leads Democrat Barack Obama, 45 to 41 in a poll. Time for another pickup game at UNC?

3. Straight Shooter: The same poll shows voters think the sheriff of Mayberry would vote for McCain and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beverly Perdue. But how would Matlock vote?

4. Bestest Governor: The National Education Association names Easley "America's Greatest Education Governor." Now, about those teacher pay raises...

5. Berger's Beef: Senate minority leader Phil Berger says the Easleys' trips overseas "raise questions" about their judgment. Next time, bring back a T-shirt for him.

Sheriff Andy Taylor would vote for John McCain and Beverly Perdue.

According to a survey by Democratic firm Public Policy Polling, the fictional Mayberry sheriff played by Andy Griffith would split his ticket in state and federal races.

In the presidential race, 35 percent of likely voters said he would vote for McCain, followed by 25 percent for Barack Obama and five percent for Libertarian Bob Barr.

In the gubernatorial race, 34 percent said he would vote for Perdue, 23 percent for Republican nominee Pat McCrory and six percent for Libertarian Mike Munger.

"The good Sheriff always came across as a moderate Democrat, and the voting pattern respondents think he would adopt is one that explains why North Carolina votes Republican for President election after election while continuing by and large to elect Democratic Governors," writes pollster Tom Jensen.

On a separate question 56 percent of voters had a favorable impression of Griffith, nine percent an unfavorable opinion and 35 percent no opinion.

The automated survey of 648 likely voters was taken June 26-29. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.

Max Borders says he feel's Pat McCrory's pain.

As a libertarian blogger and a devoted fan of "The Andy Griffith Show," Borders writes that he feels as torn as the Republican gubernatorial nominee over the actor's "shilling for leftwing candidates."

Borders also writes that Griffith's character would face modern challenges: 

A Sheriff Andy Taylor of today would be a more earnest and solemn man. He would find himself in a N.C. that in which summary executions occur perennially by members of foreign gangs. He would find himself cleaning up the Eve Carsons of the world, on the streets near Griffith's alma mater. He would find himself with very little prison space for Otis, because all manner of thugs and murders have pushed the town drunks into the arms of taxpayer-funded social workers.

Borders also writes that the times have changed since the show aired.

"Nowhere in N.C. is there a place that even vaguely resembles Mayberry (if there ever was)," he writes.

Pat McCrory's not a fan of Andy Griffith's ads.

After critiquing TV crime procedurals at a debate today, the Republican gubernatorial nominee said that though he is a fan of "The Andy Griffith Show" and the North Carolinian's acting and his comedy albums, he's not big on his political activity on behalf of state Democrats.

"There is one political reality in North Carolina, and that is every four years about a week or two before the gubernatorial election, Andy Griffith the actor recommends one of the candidates," he said.

In the famous "Mayberry Miracle," Griffith backed Gov. Mike Easley in TV ads in 2000, and again in 2004. He also appeared in an ad for Beverly Perdue in the recent Democratic gubernatorial primary.

But McCrory said he wondered what Griffith's character would do today. He said Sheriff Andy Taylor would speak out about the "revolving door" in the criminal justice system, low pay of judges and prosecutors, and problems with gangs in small towns.

He even argued that Taylor would have a hard time with Otis, the town drunk, who used to sleep in the Mayberry jail.

"If he jailed Otis right now, Otis would have to go into a cell with maybe 15 or 20 other very, very dangerous people," he said.

While some campaign staffers were already calling the election for Beverly Perdue, Zach Ambrose came on the microphone to announce the Associated Press call for Perdue's victory.

In anticipation of Perdue's victory speech, the music was turned to "Celebrate" and then "Beautiful Day" by U2. Cheering, dancing and cocktails followed.

Cindy Estill, of Raleigh, said the win was "fabulous."

"I love that she's a woman, a strong woman and says what she thinks," she said. "She says a lot about where we need to go."

Brenda Tipton, of Pine Top, said she is excited about Perdue's victory.

"I think she's a go-getter," she said.

Gail Perry, of Raleigh, said she thinks Republican contender Pat McCrory has little chance of defeating Perdue in November.

"She's developed a strong political network across the state," said Perry, a member of the board of Lillian's List. "Her support is broad. It's deep. And she's got Andy Griffith."

North Carolina and Indiana's primaries are today. How do they compare? 

North Carolina has 8.9 million residents; Indiana, 6.3 million.

North Carolina is 21.7 percent black; Indiana, 8.9 percent.

North Carolina is 48,711 square miles; Indiana, 35,867.

Bush won both states in the 2004 election.

The last time Democratic presidential candidate to win Indiana was Lyndon Johnson in 1964. The last Democrat to win North Carolina was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

North Carolina has 115 delegates up for grabs and Indiana has 72.

North Carolina race fans go to Lowe's Motor Speedway. Indiana's fans go to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

North Carolina's biggest industry is banking, with the headquarters of Bank of America, Wachovia and BB&T headquartered there. Indiana's industry is health care products and drugs, with the headquarters of Eli Lilly and Co., Anthem and Guidant.

Both states have a rich basketball tradition. Indiana has Larry Bird, Notre Dame, Butler and Purdue. North Carolina has Michael Jordan, UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University and N.C. State.

Famous Hoosiers include David Letterman, John Mellencamp and Steve McQueen. Famous Tar Heels include Billy Graham, Andy Griffith and Thomas Wolfe.

Andy Griffith's 2004 ad for Mike Easley.

Correction: A previous version of this post incorrectly identified this ad as a 2000 campaign spot.

Andy Griffith's ad for Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue.

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue has picked up a big endorsement in the race for governor: Sheriff Taylor.

Andy Griffith appears in a new ad for Perdue in which he touts her vision, strength and honesty. He mentions her endorsements from groups that include, "of course, sheriffs."

"Oh, you're going to be a goooood governor," Griffith tells Perdue.

Griffith agreed to the ad after talking with Senate leader Marc Basnight and Basnight's nephew, fundraiser R.V. Owens, about it.

"Sen. Basnight spoke to Andy Griffith and told him why he thought Bev Perdue was the best choice for governor and Andy Griffith agreed," said Schorr Johnson, a spokesman for Basnight.

Griffith's support is serious business. In 2000, the actor helped Gov. Mike Easley get elected. Easley, then attorney general was the front runner early on, but saw his lead evaporating in the final weeks. Again, with Basnight's help, Grifffith agreed to cut a spot for Easley, which Democrats called "The Mayberry Miracle." Easley ran another Griffith ad in 2004.

Easley's opponent in the 2000 race, former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot doubted the ad changed the outcome of the election.