Dear TV news talking head:

Welcome to North Carolina! We're not used to seeing your kind around here, especially during presidential election years. Heck, the last time North Carolina was a "battleground state" was April of 1865 — when General Sherman's troops came through!

By now, you can confidently rattle off the names of crucial neighborhoods in Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia with ease, but you may be a little nervous talking about North Carolina. To help you along this election season, we've come up with a quick list of talking points:

RED STATE: North Carolina is typically a red state when it comes to presidential politics. The last time we went for a Democrat was Jimmy Carter in 1976. (To drive this point home, you can remind people that Sen. Jesse Helms was from here.)

PRIMARY FIGHT: This state was crucial in the primary battle between Obama and Hillary Clinton. Obama won the state and, by some accounts, ended Clinton's hopes for a comeback. The primary also left him with a network of supporters here.

ISSUES: With several military bases and a growing Hispanic population, Iraq and immigration once looked like big issues. But these days, it's all about the economy and jobs. The sale of Wachovia and ongoing discontent with free trade are a major factor.

NICKNAMES: Officially, this is "The Old North State." (It's even our state song, though you'd be hard pressed to find someone who knows it.) You'll probably be better off referring to it by our unofficial nickname, The Tar Heel State. (That's two words: Tar Heel.)

TRIVIA: We have 15 electors. We claim Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk and Andrew Johnson as natives, though all three were elected from Tennessee. Two of our recent senators — Elizabeth Dole and John Edwards — ran for president. 

Oh, and there's no such place as Raleigh-Durham. They are two separate cities. (You may be confused because of Winston-Salem or the fact that our airport has that name.)

We hope that helps and we look forward to seeing you soon — maybe in 2012?

— Under the Dome 

Worried about education? Chances are, you favor Democrat Beverly Perdue for governor.

Concerned about immigration? Than it's likely that you prefer Republican Pat McCrory for governor.

Those are some of the findings of the latest survey by Public Policy Polling. The firm surveyed 1,060 likely voters from Sept. 17-19. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.0 percentage points.

The survey found that Perdue and McCrory continue to be in a very close race.

When PPP asked those surveyed about issues, it found that the economy and jobs was at the top of the list of concerns, with the war in Iraq and moral and family values lagging far behind. The results:

Economy and jobs: 58 percent

War in Iraq: 11 percent

Moral and family values: 10 percent

Taxes: 6 percent

Education: 5 percent

Health care: 4 percent

Immigration: 4 percent

More after the jump.

   Comments (0)

While the move today to bar illegal immigrants from North Carolina community colleges won praise from groups like Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, it drew a rebuke from the left for Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue.

Perdue, the Democratic nominee for governor, made the motion to ban illegal immigrants from community colleges while a study is being done on the issue.

The motion, approved by the State Board of Community Colleges, was a reversal from Thursday, when officials indicated they were inclined to admit illegal immigrants pending the outcome of the study.

That drew the following response to Perdue from James Protzman at BlueNC:

I'm sure you and your staff agonized about whether to sell out poor brown people for political advantage, but agony or not, you came down on the wrong side of an important moral issue. Which makes your campaign irrelevant to me. Don't bother calling. Don't bother writing. Don't bother me at all. You don't need progressives, and progressives don't need you. I'm heading for Mike Munger.

Leaders of the state's community colleges voted today to close their doors to illegal immigrants until they complete a study and come up with a permanent policy.

The decision today by the State Board of Community Colleges marks a reversal from Thursday, when officials indicated they were inclined to admit illegal immigrants pending the outcome of the study, reports Lynn Bonner.

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, the Democratic candidate for governor, made the motion to ban illegal immigrants from community colleges while the study is ongoing.

Leaders of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC were quick to praise the board's move.

"The vast majority of NC's legal citizenry do not want illegal aliens in the limited seats of our colleges," William Gheen of ALIPAC said in a statement. "We are happy the board upheld the ban so the campaigns for public office and eventually the state legislature can take up this issue."

Legislation that would allow state prisons to release illegal immigrants convicted of some nonviolent crimes so they can immediately be deported has cleared the state Senate by a unanimous vote.

Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand's bill could free up roughly 250 beds in a prison system that's at capacity, Dan Kane reports.

Only those illegal immigrants who have served at least half of their minimum sentence for nonviolent crimes such as breaking and entering and minor drug possession would be eligible, and only if federal officials were ready to deport them.

If the illegal immigrants returned to the United States and were re-arrested they would have to serve the remaining maximum of their sentence.

The legislation now goes to the state House.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, who is seeking re-election, has a new tv ad talking about her efforts to help North Carolina sheriffs battle illegal immigration, reports Rob Christensen.

What the ad says: Dole: “I’m Elizabeth Dole, and I approved this message.”

Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell: “The politicians talk and talk about illegal immigration, but Senator Dole actually did something about it.”

Henderson County Sheriff Rick Davis: “She wanted to meet with sheriffs — and she did.”

Rowan County Sheriff George A. Wilhelm: “Went all over North Carolina.”

Unidentified voices: “Raeford, Greensboro, Hendersonville, Lexington, Mocksville, Salisbury.”

Davidson County Sheriff David Grice: “Most of us didn’t have the tools to identify and apprehend the illegal immigrants who were repeatedly committing crimes … ”

Davie County Sheriff Andy Stokes: “ ... the ones who are tough, hardened criminals.”

Lee County Sheriff Tracy Carter: “So, Senator Dole works out a solution ... ”

Rockingham Sheriff Samuel Page: “... a statewide partnership between federal officials and North Carolina’s sheriffs ... ”

Guilford County Sheriff B.J. Barnes: “... to give us access to the federal tools to identify, apprehend ... ”

Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson: “ ... and deport these repeat criminals.”

Randolph County Sheriff Maynard Reid Jr: “It’s the first statewide program like this.”

Hoke County Sheriff Hubert A. Peterkin: “She is one tough lady ... ”

Unidentified voice: “ ... with major-league clout.”

Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck: “I’m sure glad she’s from North Carolina.”

The background: In October, Dole announced a partnership between North Carolina sheriffs and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to train participating sheriff’s offices to allow them to check the immigration status of criminal suspects and to hold suspects here illegally for deportation proceedings.

Four of North Carolina’s 100 sheriff’s offices — in Alamance, Cabarrus, Gaston and Mecklenburg counties — and the Durham Police Department have signed up for what is known as the (287g) program, according to ICE.

Several other counties, including Wake, have applied for the program. Participation is limited to larger counties because they have the jail space, said Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell, president of the statewide sheriffs association.

The oldest program in the state is sponsored by the sheriff’s office in the Mecklenburg County. There, federal officials have begun deportation proceedings against 4,333 people who are in the U.S. illegally — about 90 percent of whom had been arrested for misdemeanors.

There are 47 (287g) programs with local law enforcement around the country, with Arizona and Virginia having more programs than North Carolina.

What makes North Carolina’s effort the first of its kind is that the statewide sheriffs association has formed a partnership with federal immigration authorities. In other states, the agreements have been with individual departments.

Is the ad accurate? Yes. But, considering the numbers for Mecklenburg County showing that it has overwhelmingly dealt with people arrested for misdemeanors, it’s not clear that the program is dealing with “tough, hardened criminals.”

North Carolina's community college system will no longer admit illegal immigrants to degree programs based on an advisory letter from the Office of the Attorney General, the system announced today.

Community college officials made the decision based on a May 6 letter from Attorney General Roy Cooper's office and a subsequent meeting with officials in the office, reports Jane Stancill.

"We asked the Attorney General’s Office for clarification of our present policy and will abide by their advice,” said System President R. Scott Ralls. “We will continue to be a primary source of economic advancement for the state by providing world-class education and workforce training to every student eligible to enroll.”

Cooper's office had advised the 58 community colleges to return to a 2001 policy that prohibited illegal immigrants from degree classes. Late last year, the system's attorney had directed colleges that they could not bar such students.

The system's decision is counter to federal officials, who said last week that North Carolina schools are free to decide whether or not to enroll illegal immigrants. That came in a statement by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Gov. Mike Easley had also challenged the advisory letter from the Attorney General's office.

Nena Reeves, a Republican candidate for the state Senate District 12 seat in Johnston and Wayne counties, is criticizing David Rouzer, her opponent in the GOP primary, on immigration, Dan Kane reports.

What the ad says: "David Rouzer claims he shares our values. But he’s a D.C. lobbyist and stands with Ted Kennedy in support of amnesty for illegal immigrants. Called stealth amnesty by conservatives, David Rouzer’s bill is a backdoor for illegal aliens and their families. Illegal immigrants cost North Carolina taxpayers over $770 million a year. That’s wrong. Fortunately, we have Nena Reeves, proven leader, standing firm for our conservative values.”

What the ad looks like: A slightly out-of-focus picture of Rouzer wearing a dark suit and red tie appears. “Who is Lobbyist David Rouzer?” appears on the screen as his image expands. A red slash underlines “Lobbyist.” Then, a sharp picture of U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy appears next to that of Rouzer. “D.C. Lobbyist for Ted Kennedy’s Amnesty Bill” appears on screen, citing a Tobacco Farm Quarterly article as the source.

The ad then cuts to a still of a border crossing with a “CAUTION” sign showing a silhouette of a man, woman and child running. “FREE Path for Family Members as well,” the screen says, citing the Heritage Foundation as the source.

Another still shows a rally with a woman dressed in a shirt resembling the U.S. flag. She is holding the U.S. flag and a sign that reads, “AMERICA HAS BEEN INVADED.” The shot then turns black-and-white, Rouzer’s color image is superimposed, again reminding viewers that he is “Lobbyist David Rouzer” with the red slash under “Lobbyist.” The screen reads: “ILLEGALS COST NC TAXPAYERS $771 Million,” citing the Federation for American Immigration Reform as the source. The ad ends with Reeves, busy at her desk.

The background: Rouzer, a Republican candidate in the 12th District, is a lobbyist. His clients include agribusinesses that favor passage of federal legislation they say would make the guest worker program more cost-effective. The program provides what are known as H-2A visas to foreigners to work temporary farm jobs such as picking crops. That legislation, which was co-sponsored by Kennedy, provides these workers with a path to U.S. citizenship if they can show they have worked for 150 days in the past two years. They would still have to work farm jobs for three more years and stay out of trouble before they could become U.S. citizens.

The Tobacco Farm Quarterly article refers to the debate over the legislation and quotes Rouzer’s advocacy. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, has called the legislation “stealth amnesty.”

Is the ad accurate? It is based in truth, but it also exaggerates. Rouzer is a lobbyist, and he helped his clients try to get the legislation passed. But the ad suggests the legislation would open the door to all illegal immigrants. That’s not the case.

The ad accurately cites FAIR’s estimated cost to taxpayers, but it doesn’t mention that FAIR opposes amnesty efforts, and its cost estimate does not include how much illegal immigrants pay the state in sales and other taxes, or how much their in-state spending may boost North Carolina’s economy.

The economy is the top concern among North Carolinians.

In a survey by the Elon University Poll, 35 percent of residents cited the economy as the most important issue facing the state, followed by gas prices and elementary and secondary education, at 9 percent each.

Slightly more than half said that the country has "strongly gotten off on the wrong track."

The principle issues that voters said would influence their decisions in the upcoming primary were the economy (88 percent), health care (81 percent) and the Iraq war (80 percent).

Respondents named Hillary Clinton the best presidential candidate to handle health care and education and John McCain the best for immigration, Iraq war, family values and taxes. Barack Obama was not selected as best overall on any issue.

"Interesting in these results are the obvious contrasts expressed by citizens," said Hunter Bacot, director of the Elon University Poll, in a statement.  "On the one hand they differ between favored party and favored candidate, but, on the other, they are quite resolute about where things stand and why."

The live-operator poll of 543 North Carolina residents was conducted April 14-17. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory's latest ad focuses on immigration.