Fred Smith lost a straw poll at Blue Ridge Community College following a debate there Wednesday, the Times-News reports.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory received the most votes with 44 percent, while Smith received 33 percent.
The outcome of the poll was surprising, considering Smith won the straw poll at the college earlier that day, before the debate.
Smith has won convincingly in straw polls in Buncombe and Henderson counties before last night.
George Erwin, former Henderson County sheriff and Smith's campaign coordinator for the western part of the state, contests the poll.
Erwin said he participated in the first straw poll before the debate, but afterwards wasn't aware of another poll.
