Published: Wed, Jul. 30, 2008 12:30AM

Modified Wed, Jul. 30, 2008 04:47AM

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"North Carolina Republicans are sort of like North Carolina barbecue," said veteran Democratic strategist Gary Pearce. "They come in two flavors -- eastern and western."

"East of I-95 I think there is certain suspicion toward a candidate from Charlotte," said Pearce. "That seems to be a very distinct and different place for most people in Eastern North Carolina."

Why so Democratic?

Tom Eamon, an East Carolina University political science professor, said there several reasons why Democrats have done well in the east: tradition, a large black population, a touch of populism, and the fact that Democrats such as Easley and Perdue have paid a lot of attention to such issues as looking out for the military bases in the east.

McCrory is little known in Eastern North Carolina as he starts the fall governor's race, and his first task is to solidify the GOP base here. He entered the May primary late and focused much of his attention on the large Piedmont cities. In Clinton, McCrory piled praise on his formal GOP rival, state Sen. Fred Smith of Clayton, a favorite of eastern Republican conservatives.

He is a relaxed and natural campaigner who does not come across as stiff as Vinroot, the last Charlotte mayor who ran for governor.

"I didn't support Richard Vinroot," said Clinton Mayor Lew Starling, who is backing McCrory. "I felt he was disconnected. I felt he had one message for the east and one message for the west."

McCrory said he is preaching the same message across the state, emphasizing kitchen table issues such as supporting offshore oil and gas drilling and reducing the high school drop out rate.

"I don't think the voters really care where you come from," McCrory said, "but what you plan to do and what kind of leader you are."

(News researcher David Raynor contributed to this report.)