Perdue nominated after high-road pitch

She stopped negative ads in April; Moore's attacks persisted

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue defeated state Treasurer Richard Moore handily Tuesday to win the Democratic nomination for governor with a campaign that stressed pocketbook, kitchen-table issues such as education and health care.

Perdue's campaign started ahead in polling but she saw her lead narrow as the race became a duel of attack ads. Last month, Perdue pledged to stay positive, and she won the advertising war by not returning fire.

"I believe it was hard work, and I've been a worker, I've been a fighter my entire life," Perdue said in an interview Tuesday night. "I have folks who are in the audience tonight who looked at me and said, 'A woman could never do this.' I think that capacity to stand up for myself has resonated with other people."

Perdue will face Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory in the November election.

Moore, sensing Tuesday's outcome, did not throw a party for supporters.

"We may not have won this race tonight, but we did something that's even more important if the promises that have been made become promises kept," Moore said. "We've set the agenda for the campaign this fall, not just the race for governor, but the whole Democratic ticket."

Perdue starts the general election campaign with some clear advantages.

For the Democratic primary, Perdue's campaign raised far more money than the four major Republican gubernatorial candidates combined, so money is not likely to be a problem for her. She has used her years as lieutenant governor to build a network of supporters across North Carolina, as evidenced by her various endorsements in the primary.

While Perdue would make history as the state's first female governor, she is cut from the same cloth as many Democratic governors. She is a centrist, pro-business Democrat like former Gov. Jim Hunt and Gov. Mike Easley, who cannot seek a third consecutive term.

Perdue has a long track record in government to defend. Moore's researchers attacked Perdue over votes she cast in her legislative career. Those votes, Moore argued, showed that her support on some issues was expedient.

Perdue is part of the state's Democratic establishment that has long had control of the levers of power in Raleigh. In the GOP primary, McCrory attacked state government for not being responsive to residents' needs.

At first it appeared the Democratic primary would be an escalating war of attack ads over votes, conflicting statements, gaffes and campaign contributors. Then in April, Perdue announced she was pulling her negative ads.

As the campaign wound down, Moore attacked Perdue's record on minority issues and civil rights, throwing at her a 20-year-old legislative vote as well as rebel flag-emblazoned caps and beer koozies sold at a convenience store in Georgia owned by her relatives.

The ads may have hurt Moore more than Perdue. They drew swift denunciation from Democrats, including Hunt, and some voters said they were put off by the ads.

"I did not like Richard Moore's campaign," said Mildred Christmas, 60, who works for the state Department of Administration. "He stooped low with his ads. I think that was a big turnoff for the black community."

As a state employee, Christmas was just the type of voter Moore, who oversees a $77 billon pension fund for public employees, wanted to reach. But Christmas cited Perdue's long experience in the legislature as a reason she supported her.

Joy Clark, 37, of Durham said she thinks Perdue, a former teacher, is familiar with education issues such as overcrowding.

"She understands those issues inside and out and can get them fixed," said Clark, who is married to a teacher and has children in Durham public schools.

(Staff writer Dan Kane and correspondents Matt Tomsic and Karin Dryhurst contributed to this report)