Moore spins Obama endorsement to blacks

State Treasurer Richard Moore, a candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, has also been touting his endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama.

In a 60-second radio ad, Moore's campaign focuses on his efforts on the minimum wage, his endorsement of Obama, his plans to increase child care and health benefits and cut property taxes and make community college free.

"While others waited, Richard Moore helped lead the fight to increase the minimum wage, and we won," notes a female narrator.

"The same Richard Moore was the first Democrat running for governor to endorse Barack Obama for president," notes a male narrator.

Moore endorsed Obama on Feb. 23. Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, his chief rival for the Democratic nomination, endorsed Obama on March 13.

The ad aired statewide for the past couple of weeks -- before a mailer sent by Perdue to black households touting her endorsement of Obama.

Moore's ad, which is no longer on the air, ran on radio stations aimed at African-American audiences.

McCrory still leads GOP

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory leads by 10 points in the Republican primary for governor, according to the latest poll.

The weekly tracking poll by Democratic firm Public Policy Polling showed McCrory leading at 36 percent, followed by state Sen. Fred Smith at 26 percent.

Salisbury lawyer Bill Graham had 6 percent; former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr, 5 percent; and pecan farmer Elbie Powers had 1 percent.

The automated survey of 720 likely Republican voters was conducted Saturday and Sunday. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.

The firm polled registered voters who cast ballots in the 2000, 2002, 2004 or 2006 primary elections.

Pols foul out on brackets

Orr won Dome's NCAA gubernatorial bracket.

Orr got 106 points out of a possible 193 for his picks, which correctly predicted UNC-Chapel Hill and Kansas, and Memphis and UCLA facing off in the Final Four.

Like every other candidate, he lost points for predicting UNC to win the tournament, though he was right about Memphis making it to the final game.

Perdue was a distant second with 88 points. She correctly picked UNC, Kansas and UCLA to make the Final Four but lost points for favoring Texas over Memphis.

Graham came in third with 78 points. He correctly picked UNC and Memphis but lost points for choosing Wisconsin and Duke to make the Final Four.

McCrory came in fourth with 74 points. He correctly picked UNC and Memphis for the Final Four but lost points for choosing Davidson and Duke as well.

And Moore came in last, with 72 points. He correctly picked UNC to make the Final Four but lost points for favoring Davidson, Purdue and Texas.

Of course, Moore's Final Four pick was more of a joke than a prediction.

Perdue's love letters

Perdue sent word of her endorsement by a mail carriers union the old-fashioned way.

In a letter to reporters sent through the U.S. Postal Service, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate announced her endorsement by the N.C. State Association of Letter Carriers.

The union represents more than 6,000 workers across the state.

"Bev Perdue has always been a strong supporter of the Letter Carriers," association President Cliff Davidson said in a statement. "We also appreciate everything she has done for education and health care in our state."

Court hopeful maxes out

Suzanne Reynolds has raised the maximum for publicly funded judicial candidates.

Reynolds, who is running for the state Supreme Court, announced Tuesday that she has received nearly 450 qualifying contributions totaling $80,100.

She will now receive an additional $233,625 from the public campaign fund.

Judicial candidates participating in the program must raise at least $40,050 from 350 registered North Carolina voters giving between $10 and $500.

She said that public financing spurred her run.

"In the past, I have resisted the urge to run," Reynolds said in a statement. "The necessity of raising exorbitant amounts of money in races that were heavily partisan kept me away."

She faces Supreme Court Justice Bob Edmunds in the general election.