Clark: Score one for McCrory

Doug Clark says Pat McCrory won the debate.

"Counting opening and closing statements and answers to a dozen questions, I thought he won 6 rounds, Beverly Perdue won 2 and 6 were even," writes the Greensboro News & Record columnist on his blog.

He said McCrory did best on the question of open government and crime, but also did well making his case of the problems caused by gangs, poor roads, the broken mental health system and corruption.

Clark writes that Perdue did better than expected on the question of the gas tax and capital punishment.

"Overall, however, McCrory handled himself very well and effectively took advantage of opportunities to rebut Perdue," he writes. "She tried to hit him with haymakers about his support for school vouchers and opposition to the lottery but didn't connect for lack of time to elaborate."