Politicians converge on Raleigh

There was politics galore in Raleigh on Saturday, with Democrats holding their traditional Jefferson-Jackson Day events and the Civitas Institute hosting its Conservative Leadership Conference. Among the speakers Saturday night were Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole and U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, the House Democratic Caucus chairman. It was a day filled with panel discussions about politics and fundraisers for Democratic congressional candidates. A few highlights:

State Treasurer Richard Moore, a presumptive candidate for governor, said North Carolina's state employee pension fund is in good shape.

Speaking at the Democratic Women of Wake County's annual Jefferson-Jackson Breakfast this morning, Moore said that in 2001 most state pension funds were "actuarially sound."

But he cited a recent Wall Street Journal article that found just three states -- including North Carolina -- still had enough money to make their expected payments.

He also took a shot at the state rated higher, Florida, and its role in the 2000 elections.

"I want to remind you that those Floridians have a history of not being able to count very well," he said at the North Raleigh Hilton.

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, Moore's rival, spoke about pay equity and reproductive rights at the Jefferson-Jackson Breakfast.

She was one of several speakers at the fundraiser, including U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler. Perdue said the recent Supreme Court decision to uphold some bans on the procedure known as partial-birth abortion made her "mad."

"I thought that family decisions should be left to the family and the doctor," she said.

As Dome has noted in a recent blog, Perdue has a complicated history on the issue of abortion.

She also decried a recent study that showed that women make a third less than male co-workers after 10 years on the same job.

"You tell me a place where a woman can go this morning and buy her a quart or a gallon of milk that costs a third less," she said.

Bill Graham, a state GOP gubernatorial candidate, said he would run on an agenda of improving North Carolina's public schools, including reducing the dropout rate.

"I think we have ignored our high schools and the dropout rate way too long," said Graham, a Salisbury attorney.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Fred Smith of Johnston County said it was time to "change management" in Raleigh.

Smith, a state senator, said Republicans need to hold Democrats responsible for the one-third high school dropout rate, the $22 million paving debacle on Interstate 40 and for public corruption.

"We have the speaker of the House of Representatives of the great state of North Carolina going to the bathroom to accept cash to pass laws," Smith told a breakfast meeting of the conservative conference held at Sheraton Raleigh Capital Center. He was referring to former House Speaker Jim Black, who pleaded guilty to corruption charges.