How much did labor groups spend in 2008?

We're still working through the campaign finance reports, but here are the numbers Dome has collected so far on spending in state races by unions and employee associations:

National Education Association: $1,935,703

Service Employees International Union: $1,810,569

International Brotherhood of Teamsters: $334,117

N.C. Association of Educators: $267,230

State Employees Association of N.C.: $194,800

United Food and Commercial Workers Union: $116,500

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers: $41,500

Communications Workers of America: $18,750

UNITE HERE: $16,500

United Auto Workers: $9,000

N.C. Chapter of the AFL-CIO: $4,000

That adds up to $4.7 million for the 2008 cycle. However, it does not take into account money given by unions to groups such as the Democratic Governors Association, which also spent heavily here.

It also does not include spending in the U.S. Senate race.

The Communications Workers of America gave $18,750 in 2008.

The communications workers union gave $3,500 to Democratic Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue, $12,500 to the N.C. Democratic Party, and $2,000 to unsuccessful Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Hampton Dellinger, according to campaign finance reports.

It also gave $250 each to Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, Rep. Rick Glazier and Democratic House challenger Bev O'Brien.

A mailer criticizes Kay Hagan's ties to major unions.

The Employee Freedom Action Committee, an anti-union advocacy group, sent a mailer to North Carolina voters noting that the Democratic Senate candidate "has taken more than $175,000 from Big Labor Bosses."

"Big labor bosses have a history of corruption and sexual discrimination," the mailer says, "and Kay Hagan supports their radical agenda."

The group is particularly concerned with a card check bill that Hagan supports that would make it easier to unionize by signing cards instead of through a secret-ballot election.

It has previously run a full-page ad in the N&O.

Hagan has received donations from the National Eductaion Association, the American Federation of Teachers, the Communications Workers of America, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Teamsters, among other unions.

Hampton Dellinger received $685,412 in contributions by mid-April.

The candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor raised $108,999 in the first quarter of the year, according to his most recent campaign finance report.

Major donors included U.S. Department of Justice attorney Alisa Klein, Liquidia CEO Steve Nelson, Duke University professor Chris Schroeder and lobbyist Michael Smith.

He also received $4,500 from political action committees this year, including the Communications Workers of America, the Home & Hospice Care of N.C. Association and the N.C. Physical Therapy PAC.

He still has $320,000 in outstanding loans from his parents, Anne and Walter Dellinger, and $2,500 from a personal loan to his campaign.

He spent $372,028 this year on a Web site, office expenses, outreach, flyers and video.

That left him with $586,424 in cash on hand.

Beverly Perdue received $7.5 million in donations by mid-April of 2008.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidate raised $1.7 million from donors in the first quarter of 2008, according to a report filed with the State Board of Elections.

Major donors included Shelby publisher Douglas Brown, former Disney executive Michael Eisner and Golden Corral CEO Theodore Fowler Jr.

She also raised $49,700 from political action committees, including Abbott Laboratories Employee PAC, the Asheville Anesthesia Associates PAC, the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina and the Communications Workers of America.

In addition, she loaned her campaign $500,000. Her campaign still owes $275,000 in loans from her husband Robert Eaves Jr. from a previous election.

In the first quarter of the year, Perdue spent $5.9 million on TV ads, polling, office expenses and consulting, leaving her with $938,400 in cash on hand at the end of the reporting period.

The Communications Workers of America have endorsed Beverly Perdue.

The union, which represents 9,000 workers in telecommunications, printing and electronics, said that it appreciated the outreach of both Perdue and Richard Moore.

"We are proud to endorse Bev Perdue for Governor—nobody has a better record and nobody will be a stronger champion when it comes to fighting for North Carolina's working families in Raleigh," said political coordinator Wallace Weaver.

Perdue is leading in endorsements in the gubernatorial race.

She's also been endorsed by EMILY's List, the N.C. Association of Educators, the National Association of Social Workers, the United Transportation Union, the National Women's Political Caucus and the N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers.

CONWAY, S.C.—John Edwards Wednesday sought to capitalize on the growing rift in the Democratic presidential primary, by portraying himself as above the fray.

"I was proud to represent the grown-up wing of the Democratic Party last night," Edwards told about 250 supporters in a cold peanut warehouse this morning, Rob Christensen reports.

Edwards was referring to the pointed charges and counter charges exchanged by his chief rivals, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, during a Democratic presidential debate held in Myrtle Beach Monday night.

The former North Carolina senator derided the Obama-Clinton exchanges as "petty, petty bickering."

He said voters were more interested in issues that help them improve their lives such as providing universal health care and trade policies that would protect jobs in South Carolina.

More after the jump.

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