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The Democratic gubernatorial candidates sharpened their criticisms Tuesday night, drawing more pointed contrasts with each other’s records in the second in a series of televised debates. 

Former U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge heard his congressional record on trade and his tenure as superintendent of public instruction come under fire. Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton found himself defending his attendance record and his advocacy of Democratic causes in the legislature. Read the story here. And get the pundits' take on the debate.

Other headlines:

-- The calls for Democratic Party chairman David Parker to resign snowballed Tuesday, leaving his tenure short on days. Gov. Bev Perdue, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton and former Congressman Bob Etheridge all reversed course to call for his ouster after trying to avoid the controversy for days.

The Charlotte Observer is calling it the "April Surprise" and the paper's cartoonist gets in his take on the candidates' reactions to scandal.

An unknown candidate for governor is asking all the other candidates to drop out of the race and save their time.

"I think that I'm better qualified," said Gary Dunn, a Matthews resident and 58-year-old UNC-Charlotte student. "I didn't think it would be a fair fight so I asked them to drop out. It may be bold  but that's how I feel."

UPDATED: Gary Dunn -- a largely unknown Democratic candidate for governor -- will get his five minutes in the spotlight Saturday.

The Matthews resident is scheduled to speak at the N.C. Democratic Party's fundraiser in Charlotte on St. Patrick's Day, an event featuring retiring Gov. Bev Perdue. Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton and state Rep. Bill Faison will also appear and give remarks after they paid to attend the event, as did Dunn. (Former Congressman Bob Etheridge is not expected at the fundraiser.)

It's the first campaign event for Dunn, who ran for governor in 1992 as a Republican. See this WECT-TV interview with Dunn to learn more about him, or check out his Facebook page, where the photo above first appeared.