Pat Smathers says Google AdWords are good for the grassroots.

The candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor first started running ads on Google searches on Sept. 18 to promote a fundraiser featuring bluegrass player David Holt.

That promotion used Holt's name, as well as a dozen more esoteric search terms like "nc mountain music charlotte" to draw people to Smathers' Web site, said political coordinator Hanna Raskin.

She said the targeted ads were very successful. Though only a few thousand people saw the ads, almost 10 percent clicked through to the site to buy tickets, Raskin said.

Since September, the ads for other lieutenant governor candidates have been seen 1.9 million times, but the number clicking on the ads is in the hundreds, she said. Searches for "Hampton Dellinger" have gotten the most clicks.

The campaign has cost $98 in total. 

Pat Smathers will have a four-time Grammy winner at his side when he kicks off his campaign for lieutenant governor next month.

David Holt will hold concerts to benefit the Canton mayor in six cities starting in Winston-Salem on Oct. 17th and ending in February in Asheville.

Locally, Holt will perform at the Durham Arts Center on Friday Oct. 17th at a cost of $35 per person, Rob Christensen reports.

A banjo player, Holt has been a frequent guest on Hee Haw, Nashville Now and the Grand Ole Opry.

Also running for the Democratic nomination are Raleigh attorney Hampton Dellinger, state Sen. Walter Dalton of Rutherfordton and Winston-Salem City Councilman Dan Besse. They are seeking to replace Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue who is expected to announce for governor this fall.

Correction: An earlier version of this post failed to include one candidate.