Pat McCrory said he didn't seek Jim Holshouser's endorsement.
The longtime Charlotte mayor talked with the former governor Wednesday afternoon as part of a recent outreach effort with state Republican leaders.
The two met in an empty conference room at the Carolina Inn on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus, where McCrory had been attending a meeting of North Carolina mayors. They mostly talked shop about state government, McCrory said.
"After about 45 minutes of conversation, he said, 'I want to help you.'"
Afterward, Holshouser dropped McCrory off at the Tar Heels' basketball game. McCrory said he was glad to have Holshouser's support, though he's not stressing endorsements in his campaign.
"In the long run, people are going to judge you on what you can do, not how other people may endorse you," he said. "It was more important to me from a private standpoint to get his support."
Holshouser introduced McCrory at his kickoff, calling him a "21st century thinker."
