Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue has permission to disown the governor.
Gov. Mike Easley told Dome Monday he wasn't bothered by Perdue's recent refusal to say whether she thought Easley had done a good job, Mark Johnson reports.
"That's probably smart on her part. She needs to row her own boat," Easley said.
Perdue, the Democratic nominee for governor, debated Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, the Republican candidate, last week in Durham. McCrory repeatedly characterized her as part of the Easley administration.
Perdue took news media questions after the debate and responded to questions about McCrory's jabs by emphasizing her independence from Easley. (The lieutenant governor is elected separately, not as part of a team ticket.) She was asked whether she thought Easley has done a good job as governor.
At first, Perdue praised Easley's handling of the economic crisis he walked into in 2001 — plummeting tax revenues and rising state expenses.
"He helped put this state back on the pathway to prosperity," Perdue said, "And I think he's done a tremendous job on that issue."
On that issue? Well, has he just plain done a good job?
"I'm not one to evaluate people. I never evaluated Jim Hunt. I didn't evaluate Jim Martin. That's not my job," Perdue said. "You historians and writers can evaluate people."
Easley's response after the jump.
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Easley said he's gained his share of critics, and there's no reason for Perdue to take on the same baggage by praising him.
"I've asked her to do two important things, (protecting the state's military bases from closing) and the Health and Wellness Trust Fund," Easley said. "She's done a very admirable job on both. About all the lieutenant governor can do is what the governor assigns her or break ties (tie votes in the Senate), and she got that one right with the lottery. When you're running for office, you have to watch out for yourself and your administration, what you want to do. She needs to keep the focus on her."
Perdue cast the tie breaking vote to create the lottery in 2005.
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Beverly learned nothing from Hunt
A politician that does not learn from what has worked or not worked with other political leaders, including some of the best, does not deserve to run our state (she essentially dissed Hunt in addition to Easley!). She appears to have no sense for history or for the importance of the role she wants to take on. This is no longer about being the Lt Gov when others tell you what to do or you break ties for the lottery vote (when other legislators are mysteriously absent from the vote).
As you are not demonstrating any leadership or intelligence on your own, it appears that should you become governor, you will be totally controlled by Hackney and Rand. God forbid!