Nine statewide candidates will accept public financing in their campaigns.

At a press conference held by N.C. Voters for Clean Elections outside the state Capitol today, nearly all of the three Republicans and six Democrats said that the financing program will make them less reliant on special interests.

The group includes two incumbents, Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson and Republican state Auditor Les Merritt. It also includes insurance commissioner candidate Wayne Goodwin, who said his 2004 campaign for labor commissioner was eye-opening.

"While candidates used to visit all the county seats across this great state and visit every courthouse sheriff and stop in to enjoy an RC Cola at a country store or go to umpteen barbecue rallies around the state, in 2004 I learned how campaigning had succumbed to the money chase," he said.

He said he spent up to eight hours a day, six days a week, calling donors.

The other participants include superintendent candidates Eddie Davis and Eric H. Smith, auditor candidates Beth Wood and Fred Aikens and insurance commissioner candidates John Odom and David Smith.

David Smith did not attend the rally due to a family emergency.

Jim Long's hand is going to get hot soon.

First, the longtime insurance commissioner passed the torch to his handpicked choice for successor, deputy commissioner Wayne Goodwin, at a last-minute filing Friday.

Then, he took the torch back so he could pass it again at this morning's Council of State's meeting, taking a moment of personal privilege to introduce Goodwin to the other top statewide elected officials, who probably remember him from his 2004 run for labor commissioner.

"It's time to move on and pass the torch to the younger generation," Long said.

He then introduced Goodwin, who waved to the audience.

The actual torch will be passed after the contested Democratic primary, in which Goodwin faces David C. Smith, and the November election, in which the winner will face John Odom.