We are funny about our governors here in North Carolina. Back in the '50s and '60s, when other Southern states were electing arch-conservatives and fighting school integration, the Old North State kept it right down the middle and even went a little toward the progressive side. Luther Hodges was governor as the 1950s ended, a businessman who had not much use for hard-boiled ideology, be it conservative or liberal. Terry Sanford succeeded him, was an ally of John F. Kennedy and pushed thoughtful reforms in education.

The Republicans who did some time in the mansion on Blount Street, Jim Holshouser ('73-'77) and Jim Martin ('85-'93), were pretty moderate, cerebral guys.

Some governors of the last half-century have gotten more done than others, but none of them pressed the "tilt" button when he passed a windmill.

On Monday, North Carolina editorial writers met with all the major candidates for governor, Republicans and Democrats, and it's safe to say that the pattern of decades past will hold following the November election. The Republicans are predictably more conservative, talking about controlling big government, holding down taxes, being pro-business, etc. The Democrats are full of ideas for new programs such as health-care initiatives. And, of course, it was purt-near unanimous that the mental health care system, spotlighted of late in all its embarrassing detail by The News & Observer, is a mess that couldn't be cleaned up with one of those water-vacuum machines the size of Rhode Island.

All the candidates are going to fix that, in case you were wondering.

Herewith, friends, a candidate-by-candidate summation of the more interesting observations about the people running for governor, as opposed to the serious, fact-based, responsible, informative reports you will read elsewhere, written by people from the Serious Media Conspiracy who are determined for you to be well-informed.

The Republicans were Fred Smith, 65, a Johnston County lawyer and businessman who's spending millions on his campaign and is now serving in the state Senate; Bob Orr, 61, formerly a justice of the state Supreme Court, whose campaign is low-budget compared with some of his opponents; Bill Graham, 47, of Salisbury, a trial lawyer who got his name before the people by advocating for a cut in the state gasoline tax, and who has also spent millions; and Pat McCrory, 51, mayor of Charlotte, who has a sunny disposition and can-do attitude despite ... well, living in Charlotte.

I award Smith the top prize for the best word-plays and imagery. When he talked about programs in state government and the importance of businesslike organization, he said you need "a skeleton before you add the meat." He also said something about a "buffet line" of a state budget. (Smith's signature campaign events have been barbecues, so this kinda figures.)

Orr gets the "best accent" award for a classic North Carolina mountain twang, which is and always has been the greatest accent in America today.

Graham gets my favorite answer prize. When I loaded up a question about how he was spending so much of his own money and wouldn't he favor public financing of statewide campaigns in the future, he said, "No."

McCrory gets the sharp tack award, again with an answer to another loaded question from me about how Charlotte people rarely win statewide office, something pundits call "the Charlotte factor." McCrory smoothly said he wasn't worried about it, people care about other things, etc., and then noted that he had been raised in Jamestown.

The Democrats were Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, 61, of Chapel Hill, who's a former hospital administrator and long-time power in the General Assembly, and State Treasurer Richard Moore, 47, of Granville County, formerly a federal prosecutor and Cabinet secretary. The two are running tough campaigns, and they're not going easy on each other. Moore's computer site includes a "Perdue fact check" that seeks to note inconsistencies in his opponent's positions, and Perdue's site includes a section called "Know Moore," along those same lines.

Both handed out substantial lists of accomplishments, and both demonstrated an earnestness about statewide issues such as health care and government efficiency. Moore gets my "best handshake" award and the "commanding presence" award (he's very tall), and Perdue walks away with the "warmest greeting" prize because she can call the names of people she knows in whatever hometown a person she's meeting happens to be from, and she punctuates her thoughts with "y'all," which wouldn't work for everybody but has a certain charm when she does it.

We will later report on the prize to be awarded former Gov. Jim Hunt. Aw, c'mon now. We all know he's running.