Beverly Perdue says the state should fund embryonic stem cell research.

After Tuesday night's debte, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate spoke to reporters briefly about her views in light of a set of recent TV ads on the issue.

One version of the ad features primary lateral sclerosis sufferer Sarah Witt saying that Republican Pat McCrory is "against hope" for opposing the research.

Perdue said that she came to support it after reading up on the issue and talking with scientists and a friend from Morehead City whose son is a quadriplegic. She noted that the stem cells come from fertilized eggs leftover from in vitro fertilization clinics.

"You know, these stem cells are donated by families," she said. "Otherwise they'd be discarded. I mean, they're there, and it just seems to me — and to Nancy Reagan and to John McCain — that it's a really good use for science if the family agrees to do it voluntarily."

She said she would support spending between $8 million and $10 million on research, with the money coming from the N.C. Health and Wellness Trust Fund, which is funded by the state's tobacco settlement.

Perdue said she and her husband, Bob, will walk Sunday in the Magnificent Mile, a benefit started by Witt, a former marathoner.

"She's trying to raise money, and I'm going to help her do that," she said.