The Mayberry Miracle

Andy Griffith helped get Gov. Mike Easley elected in 2000.

Then attorney general, Easley started the race as the front-runner, but he saw his lead begin evaporating in the final weeks of the campaign as undecided voters broke toward President Bush.

Then, Easley tapped Griffith. Here's the rest of the story from a Nov. 8, 2000, article by Amy Gardner:

Easley ran commercials last weekend featuring actor and North Carolina icon Andy Griffith, and they stopped the Democratic hemorrhaging in the eastern part of the state, according to Democrats. And the Democratic base appeared to shake off its lethargy during the final weekend.

Democrats dubbed the turnaround "The Mayberry Miracle."