Claims Dept: Alliance on McCrory

The Alliance for North Carolina, a Democratic group funded by the National Education Association and the Democratic Governors Association, is airing a TV ad attacking Republican gubernatorial nominee Pat McCrory's economic policies.

What it says: Images of blue-collar workers, foreclosures signs and students flash on a black background beside photos of McCrory. Narrator: "Will Pat McCrory's economic policies move North Carolina forward? Pat McCrory opposes raising the minimum wage for North Carolina workers. But McCrory supports pay raises for politicians, including himself. And Pat McCrory opposes free community college tuition for high-school graduates. Call Pat McCrory at 704-336-2241 and tell him North Carolina needs higher wages, free tuition at community colleges and no more perks for politicians."

The background: The ad raises three different issues.

The minimum wage:

McCrory's campaign says he does not completely oppose the minimum wage, but there is evidence that he's not a big fan, either.

According to campaign manager Richard Hudson, McCrory supports raising the state's minimum wage, but only if it is coupled with tax breaks for small businesses or tied to increases in the cost of living.

That is supported by a candidate questionnaire McCrory filled out for the National Federation of Independent Business, a small-business group.

On the other hand, McCrory told the Asheville Citizen-Times shortly before the Republican primary that he would "probably oppose" a minimum wage increase because it could cause jobs to be cut.

And he made several provocative statements during a fight over a proposed $9-an-hour minimum salary for city of Charlotte workers in 2001, comparing it to "socialism" in East Germany and stating his opposition to the concept of minimum wages.

"I don't believe politicians should be setting wages in either the private and public sector," he said.

His campaign Web site makes no mention of the minimum wage.

Pay raises:

As mayor of Charlotte since 1996, McCrory's salary and expenses have risen from $24,800 to $39,900. That's about a 60-percent increase.

Adjusted for inflation, however, it's more like a 20 percent raise.

The Charlotte mayor does not typically vote on the city budget, which includes pay raises, but he can veto it. If he does, it takes seven out of 11 votes from the City Council to override his veto.

In 1998, McCrory broke a tie, voting with the City Council's Republicans to overturn a pay raise for city leaders that would have boosted his own salary by several thousand dollars.

This year, the City Council narrowly approved a pay raise for members and the mayor. McCrory did not make any public statements on the raise and did not veto the budget, but his campaign staff said Thursday that he opposed it.

Community college tuition:

McCrory has said on several occasions that he opposes Democratic nominee Beverly Perdue's proposal to make community college tuition free for North Carolina high-school graduates.

Is the ad accurate? Yes and no.

On the minimum wage, the ad overstates the case. McCrory has expressed strong skepticism and said he would probably oppose a raise, but he has not ruled it out entirely either.

On pay raises, the ad also overstates the case. McCrory has voted against at least one pay raise and has not taken a public stand on others.

On community college tuition, the ad is accurate.