It's official: McCrory's running for governor

GREENSBORO -- Former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory kicked off his second campaign for governor Tuesday night, vowing to end the Democrats' scandal-ridden "good old boy (and girl) network" and fix the state's "broken economy."

Punctuating a long unofficial campaign, Republican McCrory's formal announcement came less than a week after Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue shook up the race by saying she won't seek a second term.

McCrory's official launch came on the same day that Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, McCrory's successor, took himself out of consideration for the governor's race. Also opting out Tuesday: U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, a Democrat from Bryson City, who said now was not the time for him to run for the state's highest office.

Still mulling a run: Erskine Bowles, a wealthy Democrat from Charlotte. He has lost two runs for the U.S. Senate but earned a national reputation as a fiscal hawk as President Bill Clinton's chief of staff and as co-leader of a national commission that advised President Barack Obama on ways to end the federal budget deficit.

Tuesday night, more than 400 people crowded into the Oriental Shrine Club outside Greensboro to see the McCrory kickoff in a hall festooned with blue and green balloons.

The onetime Charlotte mayor, who isn't expected to have any serious opposition for the GOP nomination, didn't name any opponents or would-be opponents. Instead he referred to the Democrats' "status quo of failed leadership."

"We won't be fooled again," he said after walking in to The Who song of the same name.

Then, mentioning two fallen North Carolina Democrats - former Gov. Mike Easley and former U.S. Sen. John Edwards - McCrory recalled headlines of "FBI investigations, felony convictions ... pay-to-play fundraisers (and) tuition hikes."

McCrory said he would be a governor who champions lower taxes and more energy exploration in the state.

Some supporters on hand Tuesday said Perdue's decision eases the way for McCrory.

"It's always good when you're running for an open seat," said Hal Weatherman, a former aide to U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick. "Even though Bev was down in the polls, she still had the advantage of incumbency."

McCrory lost narrowly to Perdue in 2008. But in recent months, he led Perdue in polls.

Surveys by Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling found him with a lead over 13 potential opponents. Not only has he enjoyed wide name recognition, but 45 percent of North Carolina voters have a favorable opinion of him, compared to 31 percent with a negative opinion.

"Those are unusually strong numbers and a reminder that Perdue's unpopularity wasn't the only reason she trailed McCrory by such a wide margin," said poll director Tom Jensen.

Not surprisingly, Democrats went on the attack even before McCrory's announcement.

"Make no mistake about it," said state Democratic Party spokesman Walton Robinson, "Pat McCrory would continue to slash education funding and would be a rubber stamp for an unpopular and irresponsible General Assembly."

Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, one of only two Democrats so far to announce their intention to run for their party's gubernatorial nomination, also issued a statement Tuesday linking McCrory to the Republicans who run the N.C. General Assembly - and to their record of cutting teachers.

"Now that he's finally made it official, the people of North Carolina will get a chance to scrutinize Pat McCrory's agenda," Dalton said. "It is a destructive agenda that embraces a backwards-facing vision that cuts education funding, slashes teaching jobs and hurts our ability to recruit new business."

A new report shows McCrory raised $2.6 million last year, and has more than $2 million in the bank.

Charlotte residents donated at least $547,000 to his campaign last year, and Raleigh residents gave at least $225,000. McCrory received nearly $200,000 from out-of-state donors.

Many state Republicans clearly feel this is their time.

"I'm tired of celebrating the 20th anniversary of not having a Republican governor," said state GOP Chairman Robin Hayes.

The last GOP governor, Jim Martin, left office in 1993. Charlotte Observer staff writer Gavin Off contributed.