Beverly Perdue has endorsed Barack Obama.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidate and two-term lieutenant governor had previously remained neutral in the presidential primary between Obama and Hillary Clinton, Jim Morrill reports.

But campaign adviser Mac McCorkle said that she decided to endorse now that North Carolina has become a battleground state.

"She thinks both candidates are exceptionally well-qualified, but will be voting for Obama," he said.

Perdue is expected to do well with female voters casting their ballots for Hillary Clinton. But black voters, who have turned out overwhelmingly for Obama in other Southern states, are also expected to be a force in the primary.

Perdue's rival, Richard Moore, endorsed Obama last month.

Previously: Why Perdue might not endorse.

Rob Christensen says a high-profile presidential primary would change the governor's race.

In his Sunday column, the N&O political reporter says that North Carolina could see the Barack Obama-Hillary Clinton "circus" come to town this year.

At first blush, he says it would help Beverly Perdue's campaign.

Perdue leads among black voters, 56 percent to 19 percent, and among female voters, 48 percent to 29 percent, according to a survey of likely Democratic voters released Friday by Public Policy Polling.

"A turnout increase among women and among African-Americans and progressive voters in general could be an advantage for Perdue," said Mac McCorkle, a Perdue strategist. "But we are not taking anything like that to the bank."

On the other hand, he argues it's also possible that a higher turnout of younger, unaffiliated voters could help Richard Moore.

Still, the increase in political ads and campaign coverage would drown out the other races, he says.

Previously: Gary Pearce says it's an "X factor."

Beverly Perdue spent $1.2 million in 2007.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidate's biggest expenses last year were related to her campaign staff, including payroll taxes and services.

(Her overall expenses since her re-election in 2005 were $1.7 million.)

She paid $136,782 to fundraiser Marion Sullivan; $129,372 for policy research to a firm owned by Pope "Mac" McCorkle; $119,983 to a firm run by Mike Easley's media consultant, Saul Schorr; and $82,230 for polling to Peter D. Hart Research Associates.

Perdue also paid $42,060 to her finance consultant, Peter Reichard, and $31,442 to Rideout Research Group of Raleigh for research, according to campaign finance reports.

In addition, she reimbursed the State Highway Patrol $3,838 for providing a security detail at campaign events.

Spokesman David Kochman said that Perdue has the advantage of an existing network of supporters, allowing the campaign to spend its money putting together plans on health care and education.

"A lot of voters are just beginning to pay attention," he said. "But we've been working hard for some time to lay the foundation for a strong campaign."

The son of a top adviser to Gov. Mike Easley and Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue has secured an internship in Easley's office.

Easley's office announced the internship on Tuesday, along with 97 others in state government, for Pope McCorkle IV of Durham. McCorkle, an undeclared sophomore at Princeton University, will work in the governor's press office, Andy Curliss reports.

McCorkle's father — known as "Mac" — has been a key adviser to Easley since the 1990s and is working for Perdue as she weighs a run for governor. Neither could be immediately reached on Tuesday.

The interns are selected through a competitive process and none is taken if requirements aren't met, said Lisa Flint-Morris, coordinator of the internship program. She said she was aware of the younger McCorkle's ties to "the political arena," but that it didn't prohibit him from being hired. She said he did not get favorable treatment.

In all, 470 students applied for the internships. A total of 98 were given jobs in all areas of state government. The jobs pay $8.25 per hour.