Pat McCrory is worried about high Democratic turnout.
The Republican gubernatorial candidate said Monday that he is concerned that excitement over the Democratic presidential primary will lure unaffiliated voters to cast ballots in that primary, the Associated Press reports.
He said that could help his opponents, especially conservative state Sen. Fred Smith.
McCrory made the remarks to about 40 supporters while campaigning at Stanly Community College in Locust.
He has also told supporters that he hopes to avoid a primary runoff, which would likely attract a more die-hard Republican crowd that might favor Smith and would drain the energy and resources of the eventual nominee.
As noted earlier, unaffiliated voters must stick with the party ballot they choose today in a runoff, so McCrory would be doubly hurt by a high crossover rate today.



