The National Federation of Independent Businesses endorsed Pat McCrory today.

At a press conference at the Frantz Automotive Shop in Cary, the small-business group announced that its Save America Free Enterprise political action committee was backing the Republican gubernatorial candidate. 

Before 60 onlookers, McCrory spoke about his father's small business. Though Mr. Mac's Concrete Fix eventually was sold at hardware stores such as Lowe's, McCrory said his father struggled to provide health insurance for workers and dealing with regulations. 

"He had a very difficult time," he said. "Our house was mortgaged to the hilt." 

As governor, McCrory said he would expand a tax credit for small businesses providing insurance coverage and work with the NFIB and other groups to create insurance consortiums.

He also said he would make it easier to dismiss lawsuits, saying they represent "almost a blackmail situation" that can "paralyze" a small business owner.

"It's time that state government treated small businesses as a customer, not just another taxpayer," he said.