Perdue: Pay no attention to the Republicans, the state is not broken

Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue took strong exception Saturday to Republican charges that North Carolina was “broken” and needed to be fixed.

Speaking to a Democratic Women's Breakfast, she said she as “sick and tired” of all the ads criticizing the state and the country. And while she did not mention any names, she was clearly referring to Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory.

“I'm tired of them talking about how sorry the country is and how broken the state  is” she told about 300 people at the Grove Park Inn. “Let me remind you that we are not broken.''

“We are the greatest country in the world and North Carolina if the greatest state in the country,” Perdue said.

If the state was broken, Perdue said, why have 250,000 new people moved to the state during the last few years – adding to the state's unemployment rate. If the state is broken why is North Carolina rated first, second, third or fourth as the best place to do business.

North Carolina has added 115,000 new jobs during the past four years, she said.

And she said North Carolina is one of only eight states that has a AAA bond rating from Wall Street accrediting agencies.

Perdue told the Democrats that one of her proudest accomplishments as governor was vetoing the voter ID bill, which she was a “voter suppression'' effort being pushed by Tea Party type groups across the country.

If had become law, Perdue said, “More than one million voters in this state would have disenfranchised.''

Also speaking at the breakfast was Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, the Democratic nominee for governor, and former Congressman Bob Etheridge.

Later in the evening, the Democrats will hold their annual Western Gala, which used to be called the Vance-Aycock Dinner.