Will Gov. Beverly Perdue remain neutral?
The race for the next head of the state Democratic Party is heating up, but for now it appears that the highest-ranking state Democrat will remain on the sidelines.
Luke Hyde, a district chairman who is running for the job, said that a friend spoke to Perdue's staff before he decided to run.
"I asked an emissary to go see the governor for me and ask if she had a preference for state chair. I said I am a team player and if the governor has somebody in mind, I will not oppose her," he said.
His friend came back and said Perdue would stay neutral.
"I have not heard anything to the contrary since," Hyde said.
So far, Hyde faces vice chair Dannie Montgomery, Statesville attorney David Parker and former Senate candidate Jim Neal in the race. Another candidate who was supposed to announce last weekend has not returned a call from a reporter all week.
Meantime, Parker said that he heard yet another candidate may announce.
Update: Former Wake County commissioner Jack Nichols said he is running for county party chairman, but he has been asked by some people if he would run for state chairman.
"Quite frankly, it really depends on what the governor does," he said.
Previously: Richard Sullivan confirms he's not running.
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Re: Perdue not taking sides in chair fight?
I have not been impressed with any of the names that have been tossed around to lead our party for the next term. I am on the Executive Council and I hope sincerely the above rumor about Jack Nichols is true. He stands above the rest of the field and will help the Governor with her agenda as well as look out for party activists and the local races.