Dan Besse used YouTube to talk about his record in depth.

The failed Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor had a long history of working behind the scenes on progressive causes, but it was not easy to translate that into a 30-second TV ad.

So Besse used slightly longer YouTube videos to get the word out.

In "Dan Besse: for a safer, cleaner, more livable NC," a partly animated two-minute video, the narrator explains his work as an environmental lawyer to stop four nuclear power plants proposed for Wake County in the 1980s.

Filmed by Winston-Salem activist Frank Eaton, the video cleverly explains how Besse worked on a bill that put the financial responsibility for construction costs back on power companies — a message that would have to be diluted in a typical 30-second ad.

Since it was posted on Feb. 17, the video got 9,976 views. Besse's next-most-watched video, which shows Besse running while his achievements flash on the screen, used techniques more typical of a TV ad and was far less effective, getting only 1,016 views since being posted on Dec. 18.

The nuclear video still didn't get as many hits as Besse needed to turn around the race, but it is a model for how lesser-funded candidates can use YouTube.

A YouTube video for Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor Dan Besse got a moderate number of views, but it was not enough to help his campaign.

Speculation is rampant about the potential for a primary runoff.

On the Republican side, gubernatorial candidates Fred Smith and Pat McCrory are running neck and neck, but a stronger than expected showing from the back of the pack by either Bob Orr or Bill Graham could deny them an outright win.

On the Democratic side, a four-way lieutenant governor's race between Dan Besse, Walter Dalton, Hampton Dellinger and Pat Smathers could be similarly close.

To win outright, a candidate must get more than 40 percent of the vote. If more than one candidate gets over that benchmark, the top vote-getter wins outright.

But if no one gets over 40, the second-place finisher can request a recount. To do so, the candidate must make a request in writing within nine days — including weekends — of Election Day, or noon on Thursday, May 15.

If a runoff election is held, it would be on June 24.

Dan Besse also objects to a Hampton Dellinger ad.

The candidate for lieutenant governor called Dome this afternoon to say he thinks the recent ad by his rival for the Democratic nomination is not accurate in its claim of support from environmental groups.

"Who's the only Democrat for lieutenant governor ... backed by civil rights and environmental groups?" a narrator asks in the ad. 

As the narrator speaks, the following words scroll beneath images of Dellinger: "Endorsed by 5 of 6 Major Civil Rights Groups" and "Endorsed by People's Alliance."

Besse notes that the state's two major environmentalist groups, the N.C. chapter of the Sierra Club and the Conservation Council of North Carolina, have endorsed him, not Dellinger.

The People's Alliance is a Durham group that works on a number of progressive issues, including social and economic justice, education and the environment. 

Previously: Pat Smathers objects to Dellinger ad. 

How much have candidates for lieutenant governor loaned their campaigns?

Here's a quick guide to the amount of money each of the major candidates or their spouses have loaned their campaigns, according to campaign finance reports filed with the State Board of Elections.

Figures are for the total loans still outstanding.

Democrats

Hampton Dellinger: $322,500 

Dan Besse: $50,000

Pat Smathers: $25,917

Walter Dalton: $0

Republicans

Robert Pittenger: $500,000

Greg Dority: $0

Timothy Cook: $0

How are the candidates for lieutenant governor doing?

Here's a quick guide to the amount raised by each of the major candidates for governor, according to campaign finance reports filed with the State Board of Elections last week.

Figures are for total amount raised so far this election cycle.

Democrats

Walter Dalton: $1.3 million

Hampton Dellinger: $685,412 

Dan Besse: $92,285*

Pat Smathers: $87,807**

Republicans

Robert Pittenger: $1.5 million

Greg Dority: $9,183

Timothy Cook: Less than $3,000

* Includes $4,000 donation from Besse.

** Includes $6,513 of in-kind contributions from Smathers.

Previously: How they did by the end of 2007.

Dan Besse received $92,285 in contributions by mid-April of 2008.

The Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor received $10,381 during the first quarter of the year, according to his most recent campaign finance report.

Major donors included Blowing Rock therapist Marjory Holder and Greensboro retiree William Knox.

He received $1,000 from the Conservation Council of North Carolina and $100 from Greensboro City Council candidate Joel Landau.

Previously, he loaned his campaign $50,000 and Winston-Salem retiree Kay House loaned him $4,000.

He spent $20,831 in the first quarter of the year on yard signs, office expenses and polling.

That left him with $111,952 in cash on hand at the end of the quarter.

The Winston-Salem Journal made its picks for the May 6 primary.

The newspaper's editorial board endorsed Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Democratic contender Kay Hagan in their respective primaries.

It said Dole faced only "a nominal challenger," and Hagan had experience in the General Assembly, especially with the state budget.

For governor, the board enthusiastically endorsed former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr for the Republican nomination, saying he is "exactly the kind of moderately conservative leader North Carolina needs right now."

It also endorsed state Treasurer Richard Moore for the Democratic nomination, saying he "promises to provide a hands-on kind of management that focuses on detail."

In the Democratic lieutenant governor primary, the Journal endorsed Winston-Salem City Councilman Dan Besse, saying he is "independent of the seemingly eternal Democratic team that runs the Senate."

It did not endorse in the Republican primary for that race.

And in the Democratic race for the 5th Congressional District, the Journal backed Roy Carter.

Carter is a retired teacher and coach in Ashe County. The paper cites his experience and knowledge of Ashe County as the reason for the endorsement.

Dan Besse is endorsing Barack Obama.

The candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor issued a video press release today, citing Obama's early opposition to the war in Iraq.

"To me the choice comes down to judgement, and there is nothing more crucial to a good president than the ability to make wise chocies about war and peace," he says. "Barack Obama has shown me the kind of judgement we need in our next president."

A two-term Winston-Salem city councilman, Besse wrote a 2003 resolution for the N.C. Democratic Party opposing the war.

Few candidates this season have made as much use of online videos as Dan Besse, who is running for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.

This ad touts his recent endorsement by the Sierra Club, which Dome failed to mention earlier this week.