John Edwards is continuing his return to the public stage.

The former North Carolina senator will debate former adviser to President Bush Karl Rove on the economy and the election in San Francisco today.

The point-counterpoint discussion will be held by the Commercial Finance Association.

It will be Edwards' second public event since he acknowledged in August that he had an affair in 2006. He did not address the matter during an appearance in Indiana Tuesday.

Edwards and Rove have a contentious history. During his presidential campaign, Edwards repeatedly called for Rove to be fired, and later issued a simple statement "Goodbye, good riddance" when Rove left. (AP) 

A robocall is praising Barack Obama for his middle-class tax cut.

Paid for by the N.C. Democratic Party and authorized by the Obama campaign, the minute-long automated call features an Eden textile worker named Louis Dishman.

"During this week's debate, Barack Obama talked about cutting taxes for middle-class families like mine, lowering health care costs and bringing the change we need to Washington," he says.

"John McCain ignored the issues and used the debate to launch false attacks against Barack Obama."

He adds that McCain did not say the words "middle class" in any of the three debates.

After the jump, the script.

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The gubernatorial candidates met for their final debate Wednesday.

Democrat Beverly Perdue, Republican Pat McCrory and Libertarian Mike Munger argued over school vouchers, crime and open government during an hourlong debate on a Charlotte TV station.

Perdue repeated charges that McCrory opposes children's health insurance and vetoed a bill to put more police officers on the street. McCrory cast Perdue as part of Raleigh's "culture of secrecy."

After Perdue cited her endorsement by law enforcement groups, McCrory dismissed them as "union organizers."

At times, Munger seemed trapped between his rivals. (N&O)

What will the gubernatorial candidates say at the final debate?

Republican Pat McCrory, Democrat Beverly Perdue and Libertarian Mike Munger will debate on WSOC-TV in Charlotte from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Based on past experiences, stump speeches and interviews, here are a few things you might hear:

* Perdue says "You know me, I'm a (blank)." (Possible words: "wonk," "academic," "health care advocate," fighter.")

* McCrory talks about a "culture of corruption" or "elites" in Raleigh.

* Munger compares a function of government to something completely unexpected. (Examples: a frat party, "Star Wars" or spanking your child.)

* Perdue mentions "Wall Street" and "Main Street" in the same sentence.

* McCrory notes that Perdue skipped two UNC-TV debates.

* Munger's response to a question is completely ignored by McCrory and Perdue, who fight amongst themselves instead.

Have a suggestion for something else to listen for? Make it in the comment thread below and we may include it in tomorrow's paper. 

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue says she's debated plenty.

The Democratic nominee for governor criticized a N&O/Charlotte Observer story this morning on how U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole has largely avoided debates and Perdue is skipping the only live statewide televised debates.

"It took me almost three or four minutes to get to the part that said, 'Oh by the way, she's done four (debates),'" Perdue said during a meeting with the N&O editorial board Wednesday. "'She's done one every month. She's doing one next week.'"

Perdue and Republican Pat McCrory have faced off in four debates that were televised in individual TV markets, such as Raleigh, which sometimes were picked up by stations elsewhere in the state. She said five debates, counting one next week in Charlotte, is more than any governor's race in history. The article wasn't fair, she said.

"I'm a grown up," Perdue said. "Things don't need to be fair."

Mike Munger will get half of the spotlight again Wednesday night.

The Libertarian gubernatorial candidate and Republican Pat McCrory, the mayor of Charlotte and Republican nominee, will debate on WUNC TV. Democrat Beverly Perdue declined to join the debate, the second live forum televised statewide. Perdue skipped the first one as well.

Perdue's campaign emphasizes that they agreed to five other televised debates, four of which have already been held. Those match-ups were in individual television markets, such as the Raleigh area, but were sometimes broadcast at later times by stations in some of the other markets.

Perdue participated in the UNC-TV debates held during the Democratic primary.

GREENVILLE — U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole said today that she would be happy to debate her Democratic challenger, Kay Hagan.

Responding to reporters after touring a hospital in Greenville, Dole dismissed claims that she is dodging debates, reports Barb Barrett.

"We've already had one, as you know," Dole said. "There are others that I think are being looked at, and I am happy to do whatever."

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Beverly Perdue have become gun shy about debating.

The lack of face-to-face debates is particularly noticeable in the Senate race, where Dole has declined to commit to five televised debates. In the governor's race, Perdue has declined two statewide televised debates hosted by UNC-TV, including one tonight.

So with the election in its final month, many North Carolinians will have little or no opportunity to see the candidates answer questions.

The only televised debate in the U.S. Senate race was on June 21 at the N.C. State Bar Association convention in Atlantic Beach. Since then, several televised debates have been proposed by the likes of UNC-TV, the N.C. Association of Broadcasters and various local TV stations.

Officials with Kay Hagan's campaign said they agreed to those debates, but event organizers said Dole never committed as scheduling deadlines passed. A spokesman for Dole said that organizers never confirmed that Hagan had agreed. (N&O)

Joe Biden cited former Sen. Jesse Helms at the debate last night.

The Democratic vice presidential candidate said he was able to work with Senate colleagues like Helms, a staunch conservative, because he treated them respectfully:

I have been able to work across the aisle on some of the most controversial issues and change my party's mind, as well as Republicans', because I learned a lesson from Mike Mansfield.

Mike Mansfield, a former leader of the Senate, said to me one day — he — I made a criticism of Jesse Helms. He said, "What would you do if I told you Jesse Helms and Dot Helms had adopted a child who had braces and was in real need?" I said, "I'd feel like a jerk."

He said, "Joe, understand one thing. Everyone's sent here for a reason, because there's something in them that their folks like. Don't question their motive."

Biden attended Helms' funeral in Raleigh in July. 

Barack Obama will practice for his next debate in Asheville.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that the Democratic presidential candidate will spend some time in Western North Carolina before his debate Tuesday in Nashville, Tenn.

Obama will spend "a couple of days" in the Asheville area, Obama spokesman Paul Cox told the paper.

"He needs to focus on his debate preparation, so we're not releasing the location," he said.