The gubernatorial race remains very close.

According to a recent survey by the conservative Civitas Institute, Democratic nominee Beverly Perdue received 43 percent support, Republican Pat McCrory received 40 percent, and Libertarian Mike Munger received two percent. Fourteen percent were undecided.

"We see this race continue to be within the margin of error for the poll, making it a statistical dead heat,” said Executive Director Francis DeLuca.

Polling numbers in the race remain stagnant since the May 6 primary, with Perdue barely edging McCrory in recent polls by Survey USA and the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling.

DeLuca said McCrory has a huge lead in the Charlotte area and a slim lead in the mountains, while Perdue leads the eastern part of the state, the Triangle and the Triad.

The live-caller poll of 600 likely voters was conducted July 14-16 by TelOpinion Research of Alexandria, Va. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.2 percentage points. 

The good news for Republicans in two new polls: Their candidates are ahead.

The good news for Democrats: But not by that much.

A new poll by the conservative Civitas Institute shows Republican presidential candidate John McCain and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole leading opponents Barack Obama and Kay Hagan. Republican Pat McCrory is virtually tied with Democrat Beverly Perdue in the governor's race, Jim Morrill of The Charlotte Observer reports.

But in a state George W. Bush twice won with 56 percent, Obama trailed McCain by only four points in the poll. Hagan trailed Dole by 10.

More than 1,000 people attended a conservative rally in Raleigh today.

After taking free buses from as far as Wilmington and Asheville, attendees listened to beach music and ate barbecue and fried chicken this afternoon while waiting for former Sen. Bob Dole and Republican gubernatorial nominee Pat McCrory to speak.

Twenty tents shaded the crowd from 97-degree heat and showcased conservative and libertarian groups on the grassy Halifax Mall just north of the General Assembly.

Among those represented: The N.C. Republican Party, the N.C. Libertarian Party, Americans for Prosperity, the John Locke Foundation, the Civitas Institute, the Pope Center on Higher Education, Freedom Works, the Wake County Taxpayers Union, the National Taxpayers Union, the Republican Liberty Caucus, Americans for Tax Reform, the N.C. Property Rights Coalition, the Fair Annexation Coalition, Concerned Women for America, N.C. Fair Tax and WPTF radio.

Attendance was free, but donations of $5 to $10 were accepted.

"These are not wealthy people; these are grassroots people," said Americans for Prosperity state director Dallas Woodhouse.

Beverly Perdue and Pat McCrory are in a dead heat.

According to a recent survey by the conservative Civitas Institute, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee had 43 percent, while McCrory had 41 percent. Libertarian candidate Mike Munger had 2 percent and 14 percent were undecided.

In a May poll by the group, Perdue also led McCrory 43 to 42, with 15 percent undecided. Munger was not included in that poll.

"We have seen very little movement in this race over the past month," said executive director Francis Deluca. "With both candidates focusing a majority of their time on organizing and fundraising rather than active campaigning, the polling remains virtually unchanged."

The poll of 600 likely general election voters was taken June 11-13 by TelOpinion Research of Alexandria, Va. It had a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated McCrory's numbers. 

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole has a 10-point lead.

In a recent survey for the conservative Civitas Institute, Dole had 48 percent, while state Sen. Kay Hagan had 38 percent. Libertarian candidate Chris Cole had one percent and 13 percent were undecided.

"Senator Dole has been able to open up a significant lead over her challenger due to the effective advertising campaign she has run over the past month," said executive director Francis DeLuca. "Since last month, Senator Hagan concluded her advertising in conjunction with the end of her primary race, while Senator Dole has just begun to reintroduce herself to voters."

In last month's poll for the group, Dole led Hagan by just two points. Other recent polls have shown Dole opening a wider lead against Hagan since advertising on television.

The live-operator poll of 600 likely general election voters was conducted June 11-13 by TelOpinion Research of Alexandria, Va. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.

John McCain leads Barack Obama by four points.

In a recent poll by the conservative Civitas Institute, the Republican presidential nominee had 45 percent, followed by Obama at 41 percent and Libertarian nominee Bob Barr at 2 percent. Twelve percent were undecided. 

In the previous survey for the group, McCain led Obama 44-39. Barr was not included in that poll. Other surveys have shown Barr gaining as much as six percent.

"Both Senator McCain and Senator Obama improved their numbers over last month by solidifying the support of their party’s base voters," said executive director Francis DeLuca in a statement. "Obama increased his support among Democrats by five percent, while McCain increased his support among Republicans by three percent."

The live survey of 600 likely general electoin voters was taken June 11-13 by TelOpinion Research of Alexandria, Va. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.

The gubernatorial race is a dead heat in a new survey.

Democratic nominee Beverly Perdue leads Republican rival Pat McCrory by a 43 percent to 42 percent margin, with 15 percent undecided, according to a new state-wide poll conducted for the conservative Civitas Institute, Rob Christensen reports.

"The race for governor is a toss-up at this point," said Francis DeLuca, the group's executive director. "Both candidates begin the general election on equal footing. It will be a race to see who is the first to break away or gain some sort of leg up."

McCrory's strength is in the Charlotte area, where he has served as mayor. Perdue, the lieutenant governor, runs well in the Triangle and in the northeastern part of the state.

The live survey of 800 registered voters was conducted May 14-17 by TelOpinion Research of Alexandria, Virginia. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percent.

North Carolina's U.S. Senate race is starting off much more competitive than many people had thought.

Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole has a 45-43 percent lead over her Democratic opponent, state Sen. Kay Hagan, according to a new poll by released by the conservative Civitas Institute, Rob Christensen reports.

"The national tide against Republican incumbents is definitely hurting Senator Dole right now," said Francis DeLuca, the group's executive director. "It appears some of the crossover appeal to Democrats and unaffiliated voters she enjoyed six years ago is eroding."

Hagan is competitive because she is leading Dole among unaffiliated voters, young voters, and voters in the Triangle, according to the poll.

The live survey of 800 registered voters was conducted May 14-17 by TelOpinion Research of Alexandria, Virginia. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percent.

John McCain is ahead of Barack Obama by five points.

According to a recent poll by the conservative Civitas Institute, McCain had 44 percent, while Obama had 39 percent. Eighteen percent were not sure.

In addition, McCain had a stronger Republican base, with 77 percent of members of his party saying they would support him, while Obama had just 58 percent of the Democratic base.

The poll did not include any questions about Hillary Clinton, who is still running for the Democratic nomination despite being behind in delegates.

"At this time, Senator Obama clearly has a problem with the base Democratic voter in North Carolina,” said Francis DeLuca, Civitas' executive director. "Obama is failing to recapture the Hillary voters to broaden his appeal."

The live survey of 800 likely voters was conducted May 14-17 by TelOpinion Research of Alexandria, Va. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.

Respondents voted in the 2002, 2004 or 2006 general elections or registered since 2006. 

Two-thirds of North Carolinians think they're paying too much in taxes.

According to the April DecisionMaker Poll by the conservative Civitas Institute, 66 percent of likely voters think state taxes are too high for the services they receive.

Twenty-nine percent believe taxes are about right, and only 2 percent said they are too low.

"North Carolina residents overwhelming agree that they are not getting back in services what they are paying in taxes," said Executive Director Francis DeLuca in a statement.

The results were released today because federal taxes are due. 

The survey of 800 registered voters was conducted April 9-10 by TelOpinion Research of Alexandria, Va. Respondents voted in either the 2002, 2004 or 2006 general elections or registered since 2006.

The margin of error is plus or minus 3.7 percent.