Perdue fundraiser hails her birthday

RALEIGH -- Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue hasn't even taken the oath of office and she's already the subject of a fundraiser.

The N.C. Democratic Party has dispatched invitations to a "birthday reception" Jan. 22 for Perdue, whose birthday is actually a week earlier. Tickets cost $500 to $10,000.

The party is using Perdue's birthday as an occasion to raise money for its general fund, said spokeswoman Kerra Bolton. She said the party cannot earmark money for specific uses.

Political parties, though, are allowed by state law to give candidates unlimited amounts of money to pay off their debt.

Perdue's campaign had more than $1 million in loans or debts near the end of October, according to campaign finance reports. Final reports have not yet been filed.

Perdue will be sworn in as governor on Saturday.