Claims Department: Governor's Race

SPONSOR

Richard Moore campaign

WHAT THE AD SAYS

AUDIO: Moore: "I'm Richard Moore, candidate for governor, and I sponsored this ad."

Announcer: "Leading Democrats called it a 'poor decision' and 'irresponsible' when Bev Perdue caved in to special interests as one of the state's top budget writers. Perdue voted to give tax cuts to the wealthy, pushed spending out of control, creating a billion-dollar budget disaster.

"The result? Cuts to education and health care and increased taxes on the middle class. Can Democrats really trust Bev Perdue?"

IMAGES: Headlines from the script in large letters on the screen. Behind them are shadowy pictures of Perdue. In the end are pictures of health-care workers and a woman opening her mail, presumably to find a higher tax bill.

WHAT THE RECORD SHOWS

Much of the ad refers to the 1998 state budget. Leading Democrats did call it irresponsible. One even called it "voodoo." But Senate Democrats voted for it anyway.

They blamed Republicans, who controlled the House. Democrats cut some taxes, but said House Republicans forced their hand on cutting the inheritance tax, which favored the wealthy.

Such tax cuts -- which would total $1 billion by 2001 -- combined with a slumping economy created a $1.5 billion shortfall by 2002. That was what some Democrats had warned of in 1998. The shortfall did force cuts in education and health care.

As co-chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee from 1995 to 2000, Perdue had a big hand in shaping the budget. Voters will differ on whether the 41 percent increase in the budget during that time should be considered "out of control" spending.

Either way, it's a stretch to say she individually created "a billion-dollar budget disaster."

IS THE AD ACCURATE?

The ad is partly true but oversimplifies and pins too much of the blame on Perdue individually.