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Gary Dunn is a longshot for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. But that doesn't mean the 58-year-old Matthews resident won't cause problems for the top tier candidates. On Thursday he became the first candidate to revive an issue Democrats don't like to discuss -- particularly Bob Etheridge: the chokehold.

Dunn sent an email Thursday morning -- a regular item he calls a "virtual press conference" -- highlighting an infamous video in which Etheridge grabs a "college kid" (acting as a Republican operative) by the arm and then the neck on a Washington sidewalk.

Dunn said Etheridge was the "target of a focused and dishonest attack" but suggests Etheridge's baggage will only hurt the party's chances in the November election.

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.