Why did Pat McCrory beat Fred Smith?

As with the Democratic gubernatorial race, it's dangerous to draw sweeping conclusions, but here are a few educated guesses about how the Charlotte mayor won the primary.

He had a strong base. As a seven-term mayor of the largest city in North Carolina, McCrory had a larger pool of supporters than Smith. Playing on his childhood in Jamestown, he made a strong play for the Triad, where no candidate had a base.

He raised money. Aided by his ties to the Charlotte business community, he quickly made up for lost time, raising $1.2 million in the first half of the year — more than any of his Republican competitors, all of whom had been running for a year.

His ads were effective. McCrory had four ads in heavy rotation on jobs, immigration, corruption and leadership. Smith had two ads; Bill Graham just one. McCrory's ads were distinctive, with a clean white background that stood out.

He learned quickly. After initial missteps in his "garage-band" phase, Smith shuffled his staff and brought in a star consultant. He picked up on concerns about illegal immigration and corruption in Raleigh, cutting into Smith's core message.

His competitors ran poor campaigns. Smith ran an old-school campaign based on barbecues and spent money on a book and a song. Graham ran his TV ads two years too soon then parted ways with his consultant in the home stretch. Bob Orr was underfunded.

Lee Greenwood is coming to Raleigh.

The country singer is appearing at 10 rallies across North Carolina on behalf of Republican gubernatorial candidate Fred Smith.

He will perform his song, "From Good to Great," written for Smith's campaign, and his staple, "God Bless the U.S.A." The events are billed as "an evening of patriotism and music." 

Attendees at the rally will also have a chance to meet Smith and Greenwood afterward.

On Wednesday, the Smith campaign will hold the rally at the Hilton North Raleigh from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at 3415 Wake Forest Road.

Tickets are available at 877-278-3535 or online at joinfred.com. 

Earlier: Smith pays Greenwood $100,000 for song, campaigning. 

Fred Smith held his 89th barbecue Monday night in Smithfield.

The Republican gubernatorial candidate addressed a crowd of more than 380 during the campaign stop in Johnston County, which was catered by White Swan, a local restaurant.

Rudy Renfer, chairman of the Johnston County Republican Party, kicked off the event by urging everyone to vote in the primary on May 6.

Following a prayer, Johnston County Commissioner Cookie Pope led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. Smith's wife, Ginny, then sang the national anthem.

After the jump, more scenes from the barbecue.

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Fred Smith spent $1.5 million in 2007.

The Republican gubernatorial candidate's biggest expense was $532,992 to a company run by his chief of staff, Jonathan Hill, for staff salaries and grassroots organizing.

Smith also spent $359,915 to SouthData, a Mount Airy-based printing company that published Smith's autobiography, "A Little Extra Effort," and mailed copies to thousands of North Carolinians.

Hill said that the book was one part of a statewide effort to build name recognition. The other part was a series of barbecues held in all 100 counties.

"We have a long-term plan and we're running that plan," said Hill. "It was to have a conservation with the people across the whole state."

As previously reported, Smith spent more than $90,000 on barbecue alone. He also spent $13,745 on facility rental for the events.

He also paid country singer Lee Greenwood $100,000, spent $176,374 to the producers of his TV ads, paid political consultant Karen Rotterman $45,000 and spent $12,538 on a half-page ad in the Charlotte Observer.

Fred Smith says he didn't pay $100,000 just for a song.

The Republican gubernatorial candidate paid country singer Lee Greenwood to write a song, perform at barbecues and do other work for his campaign, according to a campaign finance report.

Campaign manager Jonathan Hill said that the money also went for things that Greenwood has not yet done, and he criticized a recent video by state Democrats lampooning the song.

"It's typical of the Democratic reaction that they jump to a conclusion when they don't have the facts," he said. "We've got a long campaign to go, and those expenses are related to the entire campaign, not just a song."

Smith would not specify what else Greenwood will do for the campaign, but he said it will be good.

"We've got lots of plans, and they'll see it when it comes out," he said. 

Fred Smith paid $100,000 for a song.

According to his most recent campaign finance report, the Republican gubernatorial candidate paid country singer Lee Greenwood to write a song and perform at several barbecues.

Greenwood is best known for his patriotic song, "God Bless the U.S.A.," which has become a staple of Republican political events.

He debuted the song, "From Good to Great," at a fundraiser for Smith in October. He's also played it live at a handful of Smith's barbecues, and the campaign has used a video of Greenwood at other functions.

Smith has used the barbecues to raise money, collecting nearly $28,000 from 900 donors who gave less than $50.

The money was paid to Lee Greenwood Inc. of Nashville, Tenn.

Hat Tip: The Insider

Lee Greenwood's song for Sen. Fred Smith is on YouTube.

The Nashville crooner debuted the song, tentatively titled "Good to Great," at a fundraiser for Smith's campaign for the Republican nomination for governor last week.

Here's the chorus:

He's from North Carolina, the place where he was raised.
Fights for what is right, and he's continually amazed
At how the heart beats strong, in the people of his state.
Count on Fred Smith, to take us from good to great.

Lee Greenwood debuted his newest song yesterday — and it's about Sen. Fred Smith.

At a fundraiser last night, the Nashville crooner premiered a campaign theme song for the Clayton Republican's gubernatorial bid.

The working title is "From Good to Great" — a riff on Smith's campaign autobiography, which says the difference between good and great is "A Little Extra Effort."

"It may be a campaign song, but I'm telling you it could be a Top 100 song," said Smith's chief of staff, Jonathan Hill.

Once it's finished and recorded, the song will be promoted on Smith's Web site and in campaign ads.

More after the jump.

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Sen. Fred Smith is proud to be an American.

And if you don’t believe him, just ask country crooner Lee Greenwood.

Greenwood will headline a fund raiser for the GOP gubernatorial candidate on Sept. 26th. He is well known for his song "God Bless the U.S.A."

Details of Smith's event are still coming, but this is Smith's fifth annual summer bash which is held in Johnston County.

Correction: The song title was incorrect in an earlier version.