Gov. Perdue to emphasize education, women in DNC speech

Gov. Bev Perdue will focus on the importance of education to boosting the middle class in her welcoming speech Tuesday evening at the Democratic National Convention.

Perdue, a Democrat not seeking re-election, will tout President Barack Obama's record on education and emphasize his administration's work in this crucial swing state, according to an advanced copy of the speech reviewed by The News & Observer.

"From education to broadband, from building roads and bridges, to supporting the military, Barack Obama is delivering for North Carolina and he is delivering for America," the text reads.

As the state's first woman governor, Perdue  will also emphasize what Obama has done for women. "He has fought to guarantee that women have access to quality, affordable health care, including making sure that insurance plans cover birth control with no out of pocket costs," the text reads. "And unlike Mitt Romney, President Obama is standing up for Planned Parenthood."

The other themes of Perdue's speech will sound familiar, echoing lines the president has repeated on the campaign trail this year. Her speech is expected in the six o'clock hour, well before network TV stations will carry convention speeches and when few cable TV stations will be paying attention.