The candidates for state school superintendent debated Monday.

Republican Richard Morgan, a former state House member, said that he would be more engaged with lawmakers, calling incumbent Democrat June Atkinson "a professional bureaucrat."

Atkinson emphasized her background as a teacher, arguing that she knows more about what it takes for students and schools to be successful. She argued Morgan did little as a legislator on the issue.

"It takes more than someone who has just worked in the General Assembly," she said.

The state superintendent has no policymaking or administrative duties. The job is mainly a soapbox for the officeholder to bring attention to education issues.

Morgan argued that legislators should adopt a rule that would prohibit cutting the percentage of the budget that is spent on education. Atkinson said the key is paying teachers well, providing mentors and creating a professional development structure. (N&O)

Beverly Perdue evaded a question at the debate today.

During a series of brief yes-or-no questions at the education debate on the SAS Institute campus, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate gave a vague and confusing answer when asked if she would support appointing the superintendent of public instruction.

"I've danced this dance before," she said. "The governor is in charge of education in North Carolina."

The answer echoed a response given by state Superintendent June Atkinson, a Democrat running for re-election, who said the governor is in charge back in January when the question arose. But it was not exactly a yes-or-no response.

Later in the debate, she said that voters don't think it matters whether the position is elected or appointed, but the bottom line is that the governor should run education.

At a primary debate in April, Perdue said that the state should have an appointed superintendent, but said it was unlikely that the necessary constitutional amendment would pass, according to this account by the Greensboro News & Record's Mark Binker.

Republican Pat McCrory's position was clear: He thinks the position should be appointed.

The Democratic presidential primary was the hot ticket last night.

The heated and historic race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama drew many voters to the polls who typically don't cast ballots in the primary and inspired some first-time voters.

But how many of them stuck around to vote in the other races?

Taking the presidential race as the high-water mark, we see that roughly 1.6 million people voted in the Democratic primary.

Nearly all of those stuck around for the governor's race. In the primary between Richard Moore and Beverly Perdue, 1.5 million voted, or 95 percent of the presidential voters.

After that, it gets interesting.

Nearly the same number of voters stuck around for the U.S. Senate race (85 percent) and the lieutenant governor's race (84 percent), or roughly 1.3 million votes.

The races for state treasurer (80 percent), state auditor (79 percent) and schools superintendent (79 percent) races, also did well, with roughly 1.3 million votes.

The numbers dropped off after that in the races for insurance commissioner (76 percent) and labor commissioner (76 percent), or roughly 1.2 million.

A record number of voters cast ballots Tuesday.

With 2,069,701 ballots cast — or 36 percent turnout — North Carolina beat the 1988 record of 953,759 or 31 percent turnout in a presidential primary. (N&O)

Turnout was driven by intense interest in the Democratic presidential primary, in which Barack Obama beat Hillary Clinton, 56 to 42 percent. Obama gave a victory speech at Reynolds Coliseum, referencing a recent remark by Clinton on the campaign trail.

"They've been saying that North Carolina would be a game-changing state in this election," Obama said. "But what North Carolina decided is that the only game that needs changing is the one in Washington, D.C." (N&O)

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory will face off in the governor's race. (N&O) State Sen. Kay Hagan will face U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole. (N&O) State Sen. Walter Dalton will face state Sen. Robert Pittenger for lieutenant governor.

Beth Wood will face her former boss, state Auditor Les Merritt. Schools supperintendent June Atkinson will face former state Rep. Richard Morgan. And state Sen. Janet Cowell will face state Rep. Bill Daughtridge for treasurer.

There will be a runoff between Democratic labor commissioner candidates Mary Fant Donnan and John Brooks.

Joe Johnson will celebrate all over Raleigh.

The Republican candidate for superintendent of public instruction will watch election returns with his campaign staff while out at dinner and at his campaign headquarters. Johnson also is planning on stopping by Fred Smith's party later this evening.

After that, he'll "see what else the evening holds."

David Young will celebrate in Asheville.

The Democratic candidate for state treasurer will watch election night returns with family and friends at his house.

Beth Wood will celebrate at her parents' farm.

The Democratic candidate for state auditor will watch election returns with her family in Cove City.

June Atkinson will celebrate at the North Raleigh Hilton.

The Democratic candidate for superintendent of public instruction will watch election returns in suite 543 with family and supporters.

Eddie Davis will celebrate at his home.

The Democratic candidate for superintendent of public instruction will watch election returns with his family in Durham.

Eric H. Smith will celebrate in Reidsville.

The Republican candidate for superintendent of public instruction will watch election returns at his home with family and friends.

Republicans don't have as many Council of State primaries as Democrats, but they also remain undecided on who to vote for as Election Day approaches.

The latest survey from Public Policy Polling found that 69 percent of those surveyed don't know who they will vote for in the Republican primary for state superintendent of public instruction, and 59 percent don't know who they will vote for in the GOP primary for lieutenant governor.

Election Day is in two weeks, and most voters don't have a clue who they like in most of the statewide contests.

According to a recent survey of 962 likely Democratic primary voters, the majority have not decided who to vote for in a handful of Council of State races.

The tally:

State Treasurer - 63 percent undecided.

State Auditor - 58 percent undecided.

Superintendent of Public Instruction - 52 percent undecided.

Insurance Commissioner - 66 percent undecided.

Labor Commissioner - 60 percent undecided.

Eric H. Smith could have been a member of the U.S. Coast Guard right now instead of a Republican candidate for state Superintendent for Public Instruction.

Smith said he tried to fulfill one of of his lifelong goals by signing up fhe Coast Guard after he graduated from high school, Keung Hui reports.

But a week into his service, he said he was discharged because a detailed medical exam uncovered a shoulder injury he had suffered when he was hit by a car in high school.

Smith said he had been so heartbroken about not being allowed to stay that he had lobbied people, including U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, for help. If he had gotten back in, he said he would have made it his career.

Smith's tenure in the Coast Guard is so short that he doesn't list it on his biography on his campaign Web site.

Equality NC PAC announced its endorsements in several statewide primaries.

The political arm of North Carolina's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy group was one of two PACs to announce support for state Treasurer Richard Moore for governor.

The group cited as evidence of his support for equal rights Moore's decision as treasurer to adopt a non-discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation.

"Treasurer Moore has demonstrated leadership in standing up for fairness in state government and is committed to fighting discrimination as governor," Ian Palmquist, the group's executive director, wrote in a press release.

The group also endorsed Wayne Goodwin for insurance commissioner, state Sen. Janet Cowell for treasurer and incumbent June Atkinson for superintendent of public instruction.