Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beverly Perdue predicted victory today during a visit to the backyard of her opponent, Republican Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory.
"You can feel the momentum, you can feel the excitement," Perdue told about 80 people at an Uptown Democratic Forum luncheon.
Acknowledging state Sens. Dan Clodfelter and Charlie Dannelly in the audience, the lieutenant governor said, "Get ready, get ready, there's a new sheriff coming to Dodge."
Perdue, who appeared relaxed in front of a supportive audience, also acknowledged that the troubled economy may limit the next governor's choices.
"I wish this campaign had been about education and health care ... but it isn't," she said. "This election is about one thing — the economy. It's the economy stupid."
Asked later by a reporter how she reconciled that with ads accusing McCrory of opposing stem cell research and favoring out-of-state trash in North Carolina, Perdue said those are legitimate issues.
More after the jump.
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"From my perspective, the campaign has to be about showing differences in policy positions for leaders," she said. "And I believe that I've said that all along, that I'll be very forthright and willing to show the difference in the way I'll be a governor and the way the mayor of Charlotte will be a governor."
She said "stem cells to me represent a real interest in moving forward on some basic cures." She also said a bill opposed by McCrory would have allowed states such as New York to dump trash in North Carolina.
"Nobody could every convince me that the way to build an economy in parts of rural North Carolina is by hauling in trash from out of state ... That's a legitimate issue."
McCrory has said he would have vetoed the solid waste bill because it would have meant extra taxes on cities. His campaign has said he supports some kinds of stem cell research. His top strategist has said he supports a ban on embryonic research.
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Re: Perdue slams McCrory in Charlotte
Obama has endorsed Perdue for a reason...her PHD in education can't do a thing for a 30% drop out rate under Bush's misadministration. Check into every other state and see what their drop out rates are. I'm glad you don't agree with everything McCrory says b/c his idea of change in education is to take the calkalators (his pronunciation...see debates) out of elementary schools. He is so out of touch that the fact that his sister is a teacher is his resume and the closest he's been to a school since he graduated (he did graduate, didn't he...sometimes I wonder). His plans are those of GW Bush's, and you can clearly see that those ideas have not worked!!!!! Give Perdue a chance; she has great ideas for our students; why do you think the NEA sponsors her????? Do you remember that McCrory misspelled "governor" his first day out?