Pat McCrory took aim at unions Tuesday.

The Republican gubernatorial candidate made several references to labor unions during a debate on WTVD that left no doubt of a rift between McCrory and a group representing state workers.

The State Employees Association of North Carolina endorsed McCrory's Democratic rival, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, in late July.

The Service Employees International Union, which is affiliated with SEANC, has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to a 527 group that is running ads attacking McCrory's record this year.

McCrory complained about the ads twice during the debate, saying they were taking his remarks out of context and were funded by "national Washington group and labor unions and other groups from throughout the country."

"The 30-second TV ads, which now attack me, by this Washington labor group are saying that I'm opposed to free two-year college tuition, and therefore I'm against students, I'm against kids," he added later.

After Perdue mentioned her endorsements by law enforcement groups during a discussion on the death penalty, McCrory took aim at them as well.

"This has nothing to do with endorsements by quasi-labor unions," he said.

During the Democratic primary, Perdue was endorsed by the N.C. Troopers Association, the N.C. Police Benevolent Association and the N.C. Sheriff Police Alliance.

The N.C. Sheriff Police Alliance has endorsed Beverly Perdue.

The group, which represents law enforcement officers in the state, announced its endorsement of the Democratic gubernatorial candidate today.

"Bev Perdue is not only good for law enforcement, she's good for North Carolina," said president Andy Miller in a statement.

The Sheriff Police Alliance was started in 2007 by three current and former Durham police officers. Miller previously served as president of the N.C. Police Benevolent Association, which represents 4,500 law enforcement officers in the state.

It has previously only made endorsements in local races in Durham.

Perdue has also been endorsed by EMILY's List, the N.C. Association of Educators, the National Association of Social Workers, the United Transportation Union, the National Women's Political Caucus, the N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers, the Communications Workers of America and the N.C. Trooper's Association.