Gov. Beverly Perdue Wednesday began a campaign for larger tax increases, to stave off what she said were crippling budget cuts for North Carolina’s public schools.

At a rally in the Capitol, Perdue urged the legislature to raise taxes higher than the $780 million tax hike proposed in the House budget. Although she declined to say publicly what she would support, the governor privately told lawmakers that $1.5 billion in new revenues should be raised — or roughly twice the amount in the House plan.

"In North Carolina we have to act boldly to protect our classrooms," Perdue said in the first of a series of rallies she plans to hold across the state. "I don’t believe we can cripple education in this state."

In particular, Perdue said revenue should be raised so that the state would not have to lay off teachers or increase the number of children in classrooms.

Perdue stopped short of saying what taxes she would propose. But aides noted that she had previously called for increases on the taxes of cigarettes, beer, wine and alcohol.

More than 100 people crowded into the old House Chambers to cheer Perdue, mainly members of the N.C. Association of Educators, the influential teachers lobby.

Cecil Banks, an NCAE lobbyist, said it was generally accepted that $1.5 billion in tax increases would be needed to avoid layoffs or increasing the number of students  in each class.

Perdue launched a state-wide tour at a time when her polling numbers have dropped significantly, including among teachers who strongly supported her election last year.

How much did labor groups spend in 2008?

We're still working through the campaign finance reports, but here are the numbers Dome has collected so far on spending in state races by unions and employee associations:

National Education Association: $1,935,703

Service Employees International Union: $1,810,569

International Brotherhood of Teamsters: $334,117

N.C. Association of Educators: $267,230

State Employees Association of N.C.: $194,800

United Food and Commercial Workers Union: $116,500

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers: $41,500

Communications Workers of America: $18,750

UNITE HERE: $16,500

United Auto Workers: $9,000

N.C. Chapter of the AFL-CIO: $4,000

That adds up to $4.7 million for the 2008 cycle. However, it does not take into account money given by unions to groups such as the Democratic Governors Association, which also spent heavily here.

It also does not include spending in the U.S. Senate race.

The National Education Association has launched a new radio ad in North Carolina.

The NEA, in a release, says the ad "urges the North Carolina State Board of Education to continue its work on bringing 21st Century Skills into the classroom."

But the ad's main focus appears to be Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, a Democratic candidate for governor who has been endorsed by the NEA's chapter here, the N.C. Association of Educators.

"You can find her on the carpet during circle time," says the ad, according to a script provided by the NEA. "And in the computer lab. And sitting at a teacher's desk.

"In every classroom across North Carolina, you can find Bev Perdue's imprint."

The 60-second ad goes on to talk about Perdue's work for Smart Start, to raise teacher salaries and to help more kids afford to attend college.

It ends by urging listeners to call Perdue to tell her "to keep fighting to make North Carolina's schools great and our children's futures bright."

Dan Kaufman, a spokesman for the NEA, said the ad is "not a political or campaign ad" for Perdue. He called it a "grassroots lobbying" ad that was paid for by dues money. He said the NEA did not coordinate the ad with the Perdue campaign.

"This is totally separate," he said.

Kaufman said the ad will run statewide for about two weeks.

Read a complete transcript of the ad after the jump.

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