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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.

Two polls put the early governor's race in context. The left-leaning Public Policy Polling took a look at the primary races (read more below on Dome). But the conservative Civitas Institute is looking ahead to November.

In numbers released Friday, Civitas found Republican Pat McCrory holds a clear lead on his lesser known Democratic challengers. The closest contest is McCrory vs. Bob Etheridge, a former congressman and superintendent of education. In a hypothetical matchup, McCrory takes 46 percent compared to 32 percent for Etheridge.

If McCrory faces Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton in an election held today, his margin of victory is greater: 49 percent compared to 30 percent for Dalton. State Rep. Bill Faison of Orange County trails by 21 points, the poll shows.

UPDATED: A preliminary debate schedule for the Democratic gubernatorial primary is taking shape. 

The Democratic candidates for governor are likely to face off at least four times, including three debates in a three-day stretch at the start of early voting.

So far the candidates are tentatively planning to attend these televised debates: April 17 on UNC-TV, aired statewide; April 18 on WNCN-TV (NBC 17) in Raleigh; and April 19 on WRAL-TV in Raleigh. The capital city's ABC affiliate station (WTVD-TV) is still finalizing its date for a debate, sometime between March 21 and April 11, but multiple candidates said they would attend.

The back-to- back dates are designed to give voters a look at the candidates before early voting begins April 19. The campaigns said the schedule may change and other  debates are possible and as they juggle numerous requests.

The Democratic primary for governor may closely resemble a traditional British election - a brief campaign season, relatively austere electioneering budgets, and stingy television advertising. The only thing missing will be tea.

With only 69 days until the May 8 primary, the three major Democratic candidates, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton of Rutherfordton, former U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge of Lillington, and state Rep. Bill Faison of Orange County, will have little time to get their message before the voters. Read Rob Christensen's analysis of the race here.

For a primer on the best races to watch in 2012 -- an all-important election year in North Carolina -- check out this guide.

And read more about Etheridge releasing his tax returns, forcing a discussion of candidates' financial disclosure in the governor's race.