Beverly Perdue evaded a question at the debate today.

During a series of brief yes-or-no questions at the education debate on the SAS Institute campus, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate gave a vague and confusing answer when asked if she would support appointing the superintendent of public instruction.

"I've danced this dance before," she said. "The governor is in charge of education in North Carolina."

The answer echoed a response given by state Superintendent June Atkinson, a Democrat running for re-election, who said the governor is in charge back in January when the question arose. But it was not exactly a yes-or-no response.

Later in the debate, she said that voters don't think it matters whether the position is elected or appointed, but the bottom line is that the governor should run education.

At a primary debate in April, Perdue said that the state should have an appointed superintendent, but said it was unlikely that the necessary constitutional amendment would pass, according to this account by the Greensboro News & Record's Mark Binker.

Republican Pat McCrory's position was clear: He thinks the position should be appointed.

The State Employees Association of North Carolina has made its endorsements.

The group's Employees Political Action Committee, also known as EMPAC, made 16 endorsements in statewide races after meeting Saturday.

"We're thrilled to support candidates who support the state's working families and the retirees who dedicated their careers to serving North Carolina's citizens," said SEANC President Linda Rouse Sutton. 

Although most are Democrats, there is one Republican: State Auditor Les Merritt.

They also endorsed several other incumbents: Attorney General Roy Cooper, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson and Appeals Court Judges John Arrowood, Doug McCullough, Linda Stephens and Jim Wynn.  

The others: Beverly Perdue for governor, Walter Dalton for lieutenant governor, Wayne Goodwin for insurance commissioner, Ronnie Ansley for agriculture commissioner, Mary Fant Donnan for labor commissioner, Suzanne Reynolds for Supreme Court and Kristin Ruth for Appeals Court.

SEANC, which is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union, has 55,000 members.

John C. Brooks will run on his experience.

The former labor commissioner said today that he will focus on his 16 years in office in a primary runoff against Mary Fant Donnan to regain his old job.

Brooks, who served from 1977 to 1993, noted that the rest of the Democratic slate for Council of State positions will have only 32 collective years of statewide experience, counting Attorney General Roy Cooper's and Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue's eight years, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall's 12 years and Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson's four years. 

(That's actually a little generous, since Atkinson didn't take office until August of 2005.)

Brooks said he would add more experience to the Democratic ticket.

"Their cumulative experience on the Council of State is the lowest it's been in the last 75 years," he said. (Partly because of the loss of more than two decades from Insurance Commissioner Jim Long, Dome would like to note.) "If I'm added to the slate, I'll add 50 percent more experience." 

Needless to say, Donnan has never held statewide elected office.

The races for open seats for lieutenant governor and state treasurer could be close contests, according to the latest results from Public Policy Polling.

But while most incumbents for Council of State offices enjoy "solid leads" in the latest survey, State Auditor Les Merritt, a Republican, trails Democratic challenger Beth Wood.

PPP surveyed 616 likely voters on May 8-9. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.

The full results in the various Council of State races after the jump:

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It was a good night for female candidates.

Aside from Democratic gubernatorial nominee Beverly Perdue, the Senate race will be between Kay Hagan and Elizabeth Dole.

Meantime, Janet Cowell is ahead in the state treasurer race, Beth Wood is ahead in the satte auditor's race, June Atkinson beat back a rival in the state superintendent's race, while Kristin Ruth and Jewel Ann Farlow were finalists for the state Court of Appeals.

In addition, Mary Fant Donnan is in the primary runoff for Labor Commissioner on the Democratic side.

Hillary Clinton may not have won the primary, but she likely brought more female voters to the polls. 

State Superintendant of Public Instruction June Atkinson, who is running for re-election, has predicted wins in Guilford, Forsyth, Mecklenburg, and Buncombe Counties.

She said she has spent the night trying to predict the counties she will win. She said she thinks the election will be a closer call in the Northeastern and Southeastern counties in the state.

"It's interesting to see how I will predict," Atkinson said.

Supporters have gathered in a fifth-floor suite at the North Raleigh Hilton on Wake Forest Road, the same hotel where throngs of Perdue supporters have filled the ballroom.

Atkinson said she plans to sleep in tomorrow and attend a farewell dinner for Martin Lancaster, president of the North Carolina Community College System.

David Young will celebrate in Asheville.

The Democratic candidate for state treasurer will watch election night returns with family and friends at his house.

Beth Wood will celebrate at her parents' farm.

The Democratic candidate for state auditor will watch election returns with her family in Cove City.

June Atkinson will celebrate at the North Raleigh Hilton.

The Democratic candidate for superintendent of public instruction will watch election returns in suite 543 with family and supporters.

Eddie Davis will celebrate at his home.

The Democratic candidate for superintendent of public instruction will watch election returns with his family in Durham.

Eric H. Smith will celebrate in Reidsville.

The Republican candidate for superintendent of public instruction will watch election returns at his home with family and friends.

Equality NC PAC announced its endorsements in several statewide primaries.

The political arm of North Carolina's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy group was one of two PACs to announce support for state Treasurer Richard Moore for governor.

The group cited as evidence of his support for equal rights Moore's decision as treasurer to adopt a non-discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation.

"Treasurer Moore has demonstrated leadership in standing up for fairness in state government and is committed to fighting discrimination as governor," Ian Palmquist, the group's executive director, wrote in a press release.

The group also endorsed Wayne Goodwin for insurance commissioner, state Sen. Janet Cowell for treasurer and incumbent June Atkinson for superintendent of public instruction.

Three candidates for superintendent of public instruction don't want 527 ads.

Incumbent Superintendent June Atkinson, Democratic challenger Eddie Davis and Republican candidate Eric H. Smith said at a rally today that they do not want outside groups running independent ads in their race.

Here are their exact responses:

Atkinson: "I believe that 527 money would undermine the spirit of this candidacy, of this race, and I am working to get individuals to participate through a grassroots effort in our state."

Davis: "I'm not aware of any independent expenditures, but I would encourage anyone who is looking at that to recognize the importance of this program and to decide not do to that."

Smith: "I am concerned that there are going to be some special interest money coming in and I'm hoping that you the media will go to these groups and ask them if this is what they're going to do. A lot of these groups have supported this program, but the media needs to challenge these folks to be sure that they're still not going to try to get in and influence the elections."

N.C. Voters for Clean Elections coordinator Chase Foster pointed out that there is a "rescue money" provision in the law for candidates who face independent expenditures from 527 groups.

"Regardless of whether public financing is in play, independent expenditures are a problem," he said.

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.