Perdue vs. Moore for Democrats

Lieutenant governor aims for governorship. First she must defeat the state treasurer.

NEW BERN -- Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue officially launched her long-expected bid for the governor's mansion Monday evening, aiming to take office as the state's first female chief executive and setting up a bruising and likely expensive primary fight.

Perdue rallied supporters in an evening barbecue-and-chips crowd at the riverside convention center in her adopted hometown of New Bern, the state's first capital. Highlighting her work as a schoolteacher and hospital administrator, she declared her mission to establish first-rate education and accessible and affordable health care in the state.

"When it comes to making a real difference for North Carolina's families, I don't just think we can -- I know we can," Perdue said.

She faces a brawl for the Democratic nomination with State Treasurer Richard Moore and a general election climate that could shift sharply, depending on her party's pick for president.

Although Perdue may be the last major party candidate to officially join the race, she set her trajectory years ago. She has maximized what little platform her current office provides in hopes of avoiding history: The last four lieutenant governors to run for governor have failed.

For nearly seven years, Perdue has held an office for which a primary duty is to wait around in case something happens to the governor. She has adeptly built a bully pulpit where none existed.

She has headed the state's Health and Wellness Trust Fund, which channels national tobacco settlement money to programs that address pivotal health care issues, such as curbing underage smoking and helping the elderly with prescription drug costs.

"That's real progress," Perdue said, "and that is real leadership."

Perdue's home turf in Eastern North Carolina is thick with military bases. She took charge of the state's successful efforts to ward off the last round of base closings and make North Carolina even more armed forces-friendly.

A native of Grundy, Va., Perdue grew up in coal territory, a land of low pay and hard work. Her father was a coal miner who ended up a wealthy coal mine owner.

She fell in love with North Carolina while visiting her brother in the 1970s and moved to the state. She jumped into politics and was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 1986 and the senate in 1990.

In the state Senate, she rose to one of the most powerful posts as an appropriations committee chairwoman. She effectively navigated the male-dominated legislative chamber where colleagues called her "Dumplin'," but also invited her to go drinking. She demonstrated expertise on education and aging issues and served as a key liaison for then-Gov. Jim Hunt.

The first female lieutenant governor in state history, Perdue would break the political glass ceiling again if elected governor. Still, Perdue must get past Moore, who also has been jockeying toward the governor's race for much of his two terms. Moore, a former legislator and cabinet secretary, has won praise for his stewardship of the state's $70 billion pension fund.

The two have already taken swipes at each other over, among other issues, Perdue's varying statements on abortion over the years and Moore's raising campaign contributions from money managers who do business with the state.