North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2008

North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2008
North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2008
North Carolina
2004 ←
 November 4, 2008
 → 2012
  Beverly Perdue official photo.jpg
Nominee Beverly Perdue Pat McCrory
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,146,083 2,001,114
Percentage 50.27% 46.88%

North Carolina Gubernatorial Election Results by county, 2008.png
County Results
Governor before election

Mike Easley
Democratic

 Elected Governor

Beverly Perdue
Democratic
Elections in North Carolina
Seal of North Carolina.svg

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The North Carolina gubernatorial election of 2008 was held on November 4, 2008, coinciding with the presidential, U.S. Senate, U.S. House elections, Council of State, and statewide judicial elections. Democrat Bev Perdue won the election.[1]

Because incumbent Governor Mike Easley was term-limited, the open-seat race was contested between Democrat Beverly Perdue, Republican Pat McCrory, and Libertarian Michael Munger. Likewise, Democrat Walter H. Dalton, Republican Robert Pittenger and Libertarian Phillip Rhodes vied to replace term-limited Lt. Governor Perdue. For details on that election, see North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2008.

Contents

Dates

  • May 6, 2008 - Primary elections.[2]
  • Oct. 10, 2008 - Last day to register to vote in general election.[2]
  • Oct. 16 - Nov. 1, 2008 - "One Stop" registration and early voting[2]
  • November 4, 2008 - General election.[2]

Primaries

Candidates Richard Moore, Dennis Nielsen, Robert Orr, and Bev Perdue took part in a forum on January 26, sponsored by the state chapter of the NAACP.[3]

The statewide syndicated TV program, NC Spin, held debates for both parties' candidates in April.[4]

Democratic

Candidates

Campaign

Moore and Nielsen appeared on the edition of NC Spin broadcast April 13 on most stations, but Perdue declined the invitation to participate.[8] Perdue and Moore met for their final pre-primary debate at WRAL-TV, which was broadcast on several stations across the state on April 22.[9]

On May 6, 2008, Perdue won the Democratic nomination for Governor, defeating State Treasurer Moore and Nielsen.[10]

Results

Democratic primary results[11]
Party Candidate Votes Percentage
Democratic Bev Perdue 840,342 56.21%
Democratic Richard H. Moore 594,028 39.73%
Democratic Dennis Nielsen 60,628 4.06%
Totals 1,494,998 100%

Republican

Candidates

Campaign

McCrory reportedly commissioned a poll to test the waters for a run for Governor in November 2007, shortly after his re-election victory, but well after other Republican gubernatorial candidates began campaigning. A 2007 Rasmussen Reports poll had McCrory leading both major Democratic candidates by three points each.[citation needed]

The Raleigh News & Observer reported on January 9, 2008 that McCrory had filed the necessary paperwork with the State Board of Elections to run for Governor.[18] He announced that he was running in his hometown of Jamestown on January 15, 2008.[19]

Debates

Republican candidates Graham, Orr, and Smith held their first debate on October 20, 2007 at High Point University.[20] The two Democratic candidates held their first debate at the annual conference of the N.C. School Boards Association on Nov. 6, 2007, which hosted a Republican candidates' debate the same day.[21][22]

UNC-TV invited the three announced Republican candidates and two announced Democratic candidates to participate in the campaign's first debates (officially called "forums") to air on statewide television. Each forum is intended to focus on a single topic: on Jan. 10, the state's economy; on Feb. 7, health care; and on April 24, education.[23] Video of the forums is available on the UNC-TV website.

The Republican candidates, now joined by new challenger Pat McCrory, debated on WRAL-TV on January 17. The debate was also broadcast on stations in Charlotte and Wilmington.[24]

McCrory, Orr, Graham, and Smith met in a televised debate held by WTVI in Charlotte on April 3. Media accounts said that McCrory was the primary target of attacks by his rivals.[25] The same was true at another WRAL-TV debate, held on April 15.[26]

The final Republican debate before the primary was held in Asheville, and featured the only appearance by Elbie Powers in a debate.[27]

Results

Republican primary results[28]
Party Candidate Votes Percentage
Republican Pat McCrory 232,818 46.11%
Republican Fred Smith 186,843 37.00%
Republican Bill Graham 46,861 9.28%
Republican Robert F. Orr 34,007 6.73%
Republican E. Powers 4,444 0.88%
Totals 504,973 100%

General election

Candidates

If he had been elected, McCrory would have been the first mayor of Charlotte to win the state's highest office.[30]

Polling

Despite a "national Democratic tide" and Perdue's fundraising edge,[31] McCrory led Perdue at first; Perdue slowly gained with help from Barack Obama as the Democratic presidential candidate.[32] Perdue and McCrory remained close, with the two often polling in a statistical tie[31] in what was the closest race for governor in the nation.[33] Perdue ran slightly behind her opponent in polls released the week before the election.[31] Pundits speculated that Perdue was hurt by current Democratic Governor Mike Easley's decreasing popularity and McCrory's efforts to tag her as part of corruption in Raleigh-- consultants mentioned Perdue's "difficulty of being the candidate of continuity in a change election."[32]

Campaign

Early in 2008, Libertarian nominee Munger called Perdue a "Stepford Wife" and said the Republican nominees were "circus clowns."[34] Prior to May 2008, the North Carolina Libertarian Party and Munger gathered 100,000 signatures of voters in order to qualify to appear on North Carolina's ballot. They, along with the Green Party, sued the state unsuccessfully over the ballot access rules. Munger appeared as one of two keynote speakers at the national Libertarian convention in Denver in May 2008.[34]

When Hillary Clinton dropped out of the 2008 presidential election The New York Times mentioned Perdue as a potential pick for Obama's Vice President.[35]

Munger called himself "the only liberal in the race."[36] Munger took more socially liberal positions on many issues than Democratic candidate Perdue. "One reason I haven't been allowed in all the debates is that I'm taking votes from the Democrats. Sixty percent of my supporters are voting for Obama. I'll talk about gay marriage, and Perdue isn't, or doesn't want to."[37] While Democratic candidate Perdue took a hard line on illegal immigration similar to that of Republican Pat McCrory, Munger took a position more aligned with Barack Obama.[38]

Perdue raised $15 million and ran attack ads against McCrory, criticizing him for not being tough enough on illegal immigration.[33]

In October 2008, McCrory received the endorsement of most major newspapers in the state, which typically endorse Democrats.[39] McCrory's candidacy for governor was endorsed by the Raleigh News and Observer,[40] the Charlotte Observer,[41] the Greensboro News & Record,[42] the Winston-Salem Journal,[43] and the UNC-Chapel Hill Daily Tar Heel.[44]

Perdue received the endorsement of actor and director Andy Griffith, who filmed a campaign ad on her behalf.[45]

Perdue defeated McCrory and Munger on November 4, 2008 to win the election.

Debates

The first general election debate between Perdue and McCrory was a forum at the North Carolina Bar Association meeting in Atlantic Beach on June 21.[46] The first debate between the two that was televised live was conducted by WTVD on August 19.[47][48] Another televised debate was held by WRAL-TV on September 9.[49] Next, McCrory and Perdue met for a debate on education issues at SAS Institute on September 19. The debate was sponsored by business and education groups and was covered by News 14 Carolina.[50][51][52]

Duke University professor and Libertarian candidate Michael Munger made history as the first third-party candidate to participate in a live, televised gubernatorial debate in North Carolina.[34] He made his first debate appearance with McCrory on September 24 at UNC-TV. Perdue declined to participate in that debate.[53] All three candidates debated for the first time on October 15, in the final debate before the general election.[54] The hour-long debate, sponsored by WTVI, WSOC-TV and the League of Women Voters, aired in several television markets.[55]

Analysts said that McCrory tended to perform better than Perdue in the debates, particularly in "sit-down debates that allowed more back-and-forth between the candidates." [56]

Results

North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2008[57]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bev Perdue 2,146,189 50.27% -5.34%
Republican Pat McCrory 2,001,168 46.88% +4.00%
Libertarian Michael C. Munger 121,584 2.85% +1.34%
Majority 145,021 3.40% -9.34%
Turnout 4,268,941
Democratic hold Swing

See also

References

  1. ^ Gary Robertson (2008-11-04). "Democrat Perdue becomes NC's 1st female governor". Associated Press. 
  2. ^ a b c d "North Carolina State Board of Elections Calendar". North Carolina State Board of Elections. http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/content.aspx?id=72. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  3. ^ "Four N.C. Governor's Candidates Answer NAACP Questions in Durham". Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc.. January 28, 2008. http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/2359355/. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  4. ^ "N.C. Spin debates set". The News & Observer Publishing Company. April 3, 2008. http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/n_c_spin_debates_set. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  5. ^ Beckwith, Ryan Teague (May 22, 2007). "Moore: "We need a fresh approach."". The News & Observer Publishing Company. http://www.newsobserver.com/front/story/576689.html. Retrieved 2008-11-29. [dead link]
  6. ^ Bonner, Lynn (Apr 13, 2008). "Nielsen has principles but lacks staff and cash". The News & Observer Publishing Company. http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1035420.html. Retrieved 2008-11-29. [dead link]
  7. ^ Johnson, Mark (October 1, 2007). "Perdue announces bid for governor". The News & Observer Publishing Company. http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/722630.html. Retrieved 2008-11-29. [dead link]
  8. ^ Johnson, Mark (April 9, 2008). "Dem hopefuls argue issues, criticize absent opponent". NC Policy Watch. http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/04/09/dem-hopefuls-argue-issues-criticize-absent-opponent/. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  9. ^ "Perdue, Moore hold civil debate". The News & Observer Publishing Company. April 23, 2008. http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1046891.html. Retrieved 2008-11-29. [dead link]
  10. ^ "North Carolina State Board of Elections". May 27, 2008. http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/1875/4822/en/md.html?cid=108. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  11. ^ http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/1875/4822/en/summary.html
  12. ^ "Graham announces candidacy". The News & Observer Publishing Company. May 17, 2007. http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/575022.html. Retrieved 2008-11-29. [dead link]
  13. ^ McKinney, Matt (January 15, 2008). "Charlotte Mayor Running For Governor". digtriad.com. http://www.digtriad.com/news/local_state/article.aspx?storyid=96291&catid=57. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  14. ^ "Orr announces bid for North Carolina governor". Triangle Business Journal. January 30, 2007. http://triangle.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2007/01/29/daily18.html. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  15. ^ Bonner, Lynn (April 13, 2008). "Crop duster wants to run the state as a corporation". The News & Observer Publishing Company. http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1035423.html. Retrieved 2008-11-29. [dead link]
  16. ^ "North Carolina Pecan Growers Association Leadership". NC Pecan Growers Association. http://www.ncpecans.org/NCPGAleadership.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  17. ^ "Fred Smith enters governor's race". The News & Observer Publishing Company. March 23, 2007. http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/556651.html. Retrieved 2008-11-29. [dead link]
  18. ^ Beckwith, Ryan Teague (January 9, 2008). "McCrory files campaign paperwork". The News & Observer Publishing Company. http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/mccrory_files_campaign_paperwork. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  19. ^ Ingram, David (January 15, 2008). "McCrory announces run for N.C. governor". The News & Observer Publishing Company. http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/882030.html. Retrieved 2008-11-29. [dead link]
  20. ^ newsobserver.com | Debate is first for GOP candidates for governor
  21. ^ Perdue, Moore to debate | newsobserver.com projects
  22. ^ http://www.newsobserver.com/1565/story/762356.html
  23. ^ UNC-TV schedules gubernatorial forums | newsobserver.com projects
  24. ^ newsobserver.com | Candidates try to show GOP can-do
  25. ^ "Rivals rip McCrory in GOP debate"
  26. ^ AP: "McCrory a target at debate"
  27. ^ GOP candidates for governor face off in final debate | CITIZEN-TIMES.com | Asheville Citizen-Times
  28. ^ http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/1875/4822/en/summary.html
  29. ^ News & Observer: State Recognizes Libertarians as party
  30. ^ News & Observer: What is the Queen City Curse?
  31. ^ a b c Johnson, Mark; Benjamin Niolet (2008-11-02). "Race for Governor Remains Close". The News & Observer. http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1278609.html. Retrieved 2008-11-24. [dead link]
  32. ^ a b "Is the Southern Strategy Dead?". American Prospect. 2008-10-24. http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=is_the_southern_strategy_dead. Retrieved 2008-10-26. 
  33. ^ a b Romoser, James (2008-11-05). "Perdue, in a first, edges McCrory". Winston-Salem Journal. http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2008/nov/05/050227/perdue-in-a-first-edges-mccrory/news-ncpolitics/. Retrieved 2008-11-25. [dead link]
  34. ^ a b c "The Longshot Candidate". Duke Chronicle. 2008-10-29. http://media.www.dukechronicle.com/media/storage/paper884/news/2008/10/29/BusStop/Michael.Munger-3512881.shtml. Retrieved 2008-11-18. 
  35. ^ Zernike, Kate (2008-05-18). "She Just Might Be President Someday". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/weekinreview/18zernike.html. 
  36. ^ "Statewide Offices". Independent Weekly. 2008-10-22. http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A267320. Retrieved 2008-11-24. 
  37. ^ "The Third Man". Reason. 2008-10-27. http://www.reason.com/news/show/129671.html. Retrieved 2008-10-28. 
  38. ^ "The State of Things: Issues Roundup". WUNC. 2008-10-28. http://wunc.org/tsot/archive/sot1028abc.mp3/view. Retrieved 2008-10-28. 
  39. ^ "McCrory visits Chapel Hill". Daily Tar Heel. 2008-10-30. http://www.dailytarheel.com/news/state_national/mccrory_visits_chapel_hill. Retrieved 2008-11-25. 
  40. ^ [1]
  41. ^ [2]
  42. ^ [3]
  43. ^ [4]
  44. ^ "McCrory for governor: Charlotte mayor would bring fresh and innovative leadership to Raleigh". Daily Tar Heel. 2008-10-26. http://www.dailytarheel.com/opinion/mccrory_for_governor_charlotte_mayor_would_bring_fresh_and_innovative_leadership_to_raleigh. Retrieved 2008-10-28. 
  45. ^ News & Observer: Perdue's Mayberry Miracle
  46. ^ ABC 11/Associated Press: Crime among topics at NC gubernatorial debate
  47. ^ ABC11 Eyewitness News' Gubernatorial Debate
  48. ^ Gov. candidates spar on offshore drilling
  49. ^ Perdue, McCrory bicker over drilling, vouchers
  50. ^ Youtube: Everybody's Business Coalition Debate Part 1
  51. ^ News & Observer: McCrory, Perdue offer views on education
  52. ^ News 14: Gubernatorial candidates on education
  53. ^ News & Observer: McCrory, Munger debate; Perdue sits out
  54. ^ News & Observer: Governor candidates meet in final debate
  55. ^ WSOC: 3 N.C. Governor's Candidates Meet In Last Debate
  56. ^ News & Observer: Dome's Take: Perdue's missed opportunity
  57. ^ http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/7937/21334/en/summary.html#

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