Beverly Perdue's media strategy is focusing for the moment on the Charlotte media market — the only market where an anti-Pat McCrory ad did not run.

The Republican gubernatorial nominee says that's a sign of possible coordination between his Democratic rival and the Alliance for North Carolina, the so-called "issue advocacy" group that is running a TV campaign attacking McCrory, David Ingram reports.

"Negative Bev is back in full force," McCrory spokeswoman Amy Auth said in an e-mail to Dome. "She has one very negative attack ad and another ad that is well-coordinated with two negative ads from a group funded by labor unions."

Perdue's campaign released its "Leader" ad Tuesday, telling reporters in a news release that it was adding Charlotte to its media buy. According to numbers gathered by the McCrory campaign, Perdue had placed a buy for $69,000 in the Charlotte market and $71,000 in the rest of the state combined.

In an interview, Perdue spokesman Tim Crowley said the campaign is on the air statewide with two ads, but he would not comment on spending from market to market.

"There's absolutely no coordination," Crowley said. "Bev Perdue's campaign had all intentions of having Bev's message up in every TV market in North Carolina, and that's what we're doing."

Beverly Perdue has a new spokesman.

The Democratic gubernatorial nominee announced today that she has hired Tim Crowley, who previously served a similar function for her at the lieutenant governor's office.

Crowley is a former journalist who hosted Legislative Week in Review on UNC-TV and was a statehouse reporter for the N.C. Public Radio Association.

"I look forward to helping Bev Perdue become the next governor of North Carolina," he said. "I've seen firsthand how hard she works on behalf of our state and know that her vision is right for North Carolina's working families."

Beverly Perdue says Julie White did not act alone.

A spokesman for the lieutenant governor said others working for state Treasurer Richard Moore were involved in a public records request. 

“It’s clear from the documents that others in the office were involved and that the problem was more widespread," said communications director Tim Crowley. "The Treasurer owes a deeper explanation than what has been given so far."

Earlier, Crowley said Moore's counter-claim to state Auditor Les Merritt was a "campaign stunt." 

Previously: Moore will discipline White.