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Claims Dept: Perdue's 'Map' ad

Democrat Beverly Perdue's campaign is running a new TV ad in Eastern North Carolina and Greensboro in her race against Republican Pat McCrory, accusing him of favoring the transportation interests of Charlotte over the rural parts of the state.

What the ad says: Perdue: "I'm Bev Perdue. I'm running for governor and I sponsored this ad."

Announcer: "This must be how Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory sees North Carolina. McCrory says we should take money away from rural highways. He said quote, 'The rural people have been kicking our rear end.' He even questioned whether we should pave roads in rural North Carolina.

McCrory said that Charlotte's getting quote, 'Ripped off.'

Don't let Pat McCrory divide North Carolina. He's not for all of us."

The ad, running in Eastern North Carolina markets and the Greensboro area this week, displays McCrory and a pop-up style illustration of Charlotte's place on the map – and then its skyline covering a disproportionate swath of the state. Portions of quotes cited in the ad are shown in a comics-style speech bubble coming from a somewhat disheveled McCrory.

The background: The ad relies on McCrory comments from newspaper stories, editorials and his cable TV talk show dating to 1998 in which he questioned how state government parcels out road money.

McCrory has repeatedly criticized the funding formula that determines how state road dollars will be spent. He has complained that the formula does not adequately account for population in deciding which areas should get more money. McCrory has said that metropolitan areas should get more money, which would mean rural areas would get less.

The claim that McCrory questioned whether rural roads should be paved is a stretch. In 2000, at a meeting of North Carolina mayors, McCrory said that the state's policy of building paved roads to every community encourages sprawl, according to an Associated Press account.

McCrory's statement about Charlotte getting "ripped off" also refers to criticism of state funding formulas.

Is it accurate? Not entirely. The ad makes a leap in claiming that McCrory questions whether rural roads should be paved. It's true that he has lobbied for more road funding for metropolitan areas, particularly Charlotte.

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Re: Claims Dept: Perdue's 'Map' ad

Submitted by wwf165 on October 27, 2008 - 6:09pm.

Nope. Guess you didn't get any logic courses with that mail order phd of yours.

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Re: Claims Dept: Perdue's 'Map' ad

Submitted by pickingperdue on October 27, 2008 - 5:34pm.

No, maybe it means Wachovia woke up and began to smell the rat in its own city - that would be Mr. Sarah Palin is Hotter in Person McCrory. Perhaps they are a bit ashamed of Playboy Pat. Sorry, the "bright, shiny" tag belongs to your mayor.

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Re: Claims Dept: Perdue's 'Map' ad

Submitted by wwf165 on October 26, 2008 - 6:38pm.

Funny you should mention Wachovia - a quick calculation comparing political campaign donations from Wachovia (NC State Board of Elections website) actually shows that Bev Perdue received at least FIFTEEN percent more in campaign contributions from Wachovia than Mayor McCrory.

Does that make Bev "bright,shiny friends" with Ken Thompson?

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Re: Claims Dept: Perdue's 'Map' ad

Submitted by pickingperdue on October 26, 2008 - 5:48pm.

Pat would fight as Mayor of Charlotte...for banks, Duke Power, Myers Park Country Club, and any other "bright, shiny object" that he and his "bright, shiny friends" like Jim Black and Ken Thompson could enjoy. Perhaps they could ride the "bright and shiny" McCrory Rail on their merry way to the next elite club where they can enjoy a round or two of golf or a trip to Paris on our dollars!

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Re: Claims Dept: Perdue's 'Map' ad

Submitted by Carolina23 on October 23, 2008 - 7:42pm.

As mayor of Charlotte for over a decade, why wouldn't McCrory fight for more allocation of state money to Charlotte? Its the job of any political figure to serve their constituents. As mayor of Charlotte, he owed representation to the citizens of Charlotte, not the entire state. As governor, McCrory would fight for all citizens of North Carolina and make sure that money was allocated proportionately and fairly, in contrary to Bev Perdue and the current corrupt favoritism in the state government. Anyone who has driven on I-85 around Concord knows that the state currently does not allocate money fairly.

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Re: Claims Dept: Perdue's 'Map' ad

Submitted by mountainman on October 23, 2008 - 6:36pm.

I live in the smallest county in the state and it is very rural. I think the majority of the highway money should be spent in the areas of the state where it can benefit the most people. Why would anyone want to spend more money where there is less traffic. They should absolutly be at the top of the list for highway money. "I wouldn't put a roof on my garage before I put one on my house".

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Re: Claims Dept: Perdue's 'Map' ad

Submitted by Brice_Trent on October 23, 2008 - 4:06pm.

Pot meet kettle...

The self rightous hyperbole coming from McCrory supporters on this blog no longer surprises me.

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Re: Claims Dept: Perdue's 'Map' ad

Submitted by montymom on October 23, 2008 - 4:04pm.

I'm thrilled to see this ad hitting the air. It's time that NC realizes that McCrory is not for the people. As mayor he's only looked out for the big money crowd. That's why uptown has all the shiny buildings, and the rest of Charlotte is sinking deep in potholes. Charlotte's economy is not diversified (it relies too much on the banks), unemployment is growing, poverty and crime is on the rise, there's little affordable housing,the schools are a mess,and the mass transit McCrory brags about only benefits the uptown crowd (not the people who really need public transportation). There's a lot of people hurting n Charlotte, but McCrory fails to see it. Charlotte is all style and no substance, just like its mayor.

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wolfpackalum you can keep Bev in Raleigh

Submitted by Gosh (not verified) on October 23, 2008 - 3:32pm.

I just want Pat out of Charlotte where he can do no more harm.

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Re: Charlotte is getting "Ripped Off" as Patty McCrazy says

Submitted by wolfpackalum on October 23, 2008 - 3:26pm.

Gosh, I don't think you're divide and conquer strategy will work. It's hard to believe you even continue your negative posts on a blog that says the ad isn't even accurate. I guess it's not that hard to believe, considering Bev's entire campaign is based off of inaccurate attack ads.

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