Mike Easley did not endorse Hillary Clinton today.

But he did have a slip of the tongue that sure made it sound like he was.

While speaking at an education forum this morning, the governor said that he hopes the next president will do more for education.

"I hope the federal government will play a bigger role as we move into ... into the next presidency ... and I think she will," he said.

There were scattered laughs and even a few groans from the audience, to which Easley responded enigmatically, "You've got to try."

Spokesman Seth Effron said that the pronoun was not an endorsement in the presidential race and that the governor meant to say "he or she" in his remarks but got tongue-tied.

"He's not trying to endorse," he said.