How would presidential race affect primary?

Gary Pearce says a high-profile presidential primary could hurt the governor's race.

On Talking About Politics, the Democratic political consultant says that the potential for North Carolina's May 6 primary to be of interest to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama could hurt Beverly Perdue and Richard Moore's race for the gubernatorial nomination.

Suddenly, their calculus has a big X Factor. Do I endorse Clinton or Obama? If I don’t, will I make women mad—or African-Americans mad? Pick your poison.

He says that the presidential race could also suck the air out of the room, dominating news coverage and filling up the airwaves with ads.

A presidential primary will be "about as welcome as an outbreak of bird flu," he writes.