Pat McCrory called George W. Bush a "great president" in 2004.

During a two-minute speech at the Republican National Convention in New York City on Aug. 30, the Charlotte mayor praised Bush's leadership on behalf of the Republican Mayors and Local Officials 527 group.

"As mayors, we are on the front lines of government," he said. "So I'm pleased to say that our president has been a very good friend to mayors."

He spoke about brownfield legislation that rehabilitates industrial waste sites, tax cuts and increased homeownership and "strong and decisive leadership" from Bush on terrorism:

"But most of all, President Bush has helped cities by reassuring people through strong and decisive leadership on the war on terrorism. He understands that to protect our cities we must take the war to those trying to destroy us. We have witnessed leadership in the toughest of times from a great Republican mayor right here in New York City and from a great president during the past four years. Cities large and small will benefit by having President Bush leading us for another four more years."

A new ad from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beverly Perdue attacks McCrory for his ties to Bush, noting that he called him "a great president."

John Edwards and Sen. Hillary Clinton are tied in North Carolina.

The former North Carolina senator and the former First Lady were both favored by 29 percent of voters in a tracking poll of likely Democratic voters.

Sen. Barack Obama, meantime, was in third place with 23 percent.

The survey by Democratic firm Public Policy Polling also showed former Sen. Fred Thompson in the lead among Republican presidential candidates at 30 percent, with former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani at 20 percent, former Gov. Mitt Romney at 12 percent and Sen. John McCain at 7 percent.

In the governor's race, the poll shows Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue with 38 percent to Treasurer Richard Moore with 28 percent on the Democratic side, and among Republicans, Bill Graham at 23 percent, state Sen. Fred Smith at 11 percent and former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr at 9 percent.

The race among Democratic lieutenant governor candidates remains inconclusive.

The firm's Justin Guillory has analysis of the results here.