While some campaign staffers were already calling the election for Beverly Perdue, Zach Ambrose came on the microphone to announce the Associated Press call for Perdue's victory.

In anticipation of Perdue's victory speech, the music was turned to "Celebrate" and then "Beautiful Day" by U2. Cheering, dancing and cocktails followed.

Cindy Estill, of Raleigh, said the win was "fabulous."

"I love that she's a woman, a strong woman and says what she thinks," she said. "She says a lot about where we need to go."

Brenda Tipton, of Pine Top, said she is excited about Perdue's victory.

"I think she's a go-getter," she said.

Gail Perry, of Raleigh, said she thinks Republican contender Pat McCrory has little chance of defeating Perdue in November.

"She's developed a strong political network across the state," said Perry, a member of the board of Lillian's List. "Her support is broad. It's deep. And she's got Andy Griffith."

Beverly Perdue hopes to raise some green off of "scorched earth."

The lieutenant governor's campaign for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination has sent out an e-mail trying to raise money to fight state Treasurer Richard Moore's recent attacks on her record.

In recent weeks, Moore's campaign has gone on the offense over Perdue's resume, an endorsement from the N.C. Association of Educators and transportation funding. (He's also gone after her pro-choice credentials, though the e-mail doesn't mention it.)

In the e-mail, Campaign Manager Zach Ambrose says he's out of line:

It's sad that Richard Moore thinks that this is the only way he can win. We will not sit back and let him get away with it. More importantly, North Carolina's Democrats won't let that kind of smear campaign work in a Democratic primary.

He also asks for $50, $250 or $500 contributions.

Beverly Perdue's campaign manager grew up in Wake County.

Zach Ambrose was raised in Garner and Raleigh and graduated from Enloe High School in 1986. He then went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning degrees in electrical engineering and Russian.

After graduation, he spent five years in the U.S. Navy, serving most of that time on the USS Halyburton, a guided missile frigate.

Ambrose has previously served as director of the state Senate Caucus in the 2002 and 2004 elections. He worked as Perdue's chief of staff from 2005 to 2007. Last week, Perdue announced he would head up her campaign for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

His wife, Jill, is a pediatrician, and they have two young children, Catherine and John. 

The Eight Ball picks up two points, and a contender moves into the running.

Earlier this afternoon, the magic toy from Target correctly agreed with The Raleigh Soup that Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue's chief of staff, Zach Ambrose, would become her campaign manager, and that N.C. Department of Commerce official Don Hobart would replace Ambrose.

In a release sent not long afterward, Perdue's office confirmed both.

Ambrose has already stepped down from his position as chief of staff, which paid $110,970 a year.

Hobart, a native of Johnson County, has worked for then Attorney General Mike Easley, U.S. Rep. David Price and former Gov. Jim Hunt. He'll start Sept. 24.

The current standings: Eight Ball 7-for-9; Raleigh Soup 2-for-2; N.C. Spin 1-for-3; TechJournal South, N.C. Policy Watch, Speaker Joe Hackney and the Whiteville News Reporter 1-for-1.

Today, the Magic Eight Ball takes on a new contender.

The Raleigh Soup, a snarky stew of gossip and scuttlebutt, claims that "rumor in the City of Oaks" is that Don Hobart, director of governmental and legal affairs for the N.C. Department of Commerce, will soon take a new job as chief of staff for Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue.

The reason? To allow current chief of staff Zach Ambrose to become Perdue's campaign manager. (Previously: Perdue is one of three campaigns without a manager.)

We've divided this into two parts. 1. Will Don Hobart become chief of staff for Perdue? The Eight Ball: Yes, definitely. 2. Will Zach Ambrose become her campaign manager? Yes.

We'll check back when someone from Perdue's office returns our calls.