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Moore's staff has been accused of using state property for political purposes in the past. In April 2006, a state audit found that former Chief Deputy Treasurer Joe Stewart used the department's computer network for political purposes. Stewart left the treasurer's office in February 2005.

In Perdue's office, Merritt found that Perdue had installed privately funded Internet access and a wireless router. Employees said they used the Internet access for campaign business, but only on breaks, during lunch and after business hours. Perdue had no way of monitoring whether employees stuck to those rules, Merritt found, although she told auditors that she had confidence in her employees and trusted them not to abuse the privilege.

"A state-owned building, equipment and property were provided to the lieutenant governor's office to conduct official state business only," Merritt wrote. "It is inappropriate for the lieutenant governor (or her campaign) to provide equipment that invites the abuse of those policies and statutes."

In her response to Merritt, Perdue wrote that she had the private Internet connection shut off in November and that her staff is regularly reminded of the rules for use.

Moore's office had also accused Perdue of misusing state troopers, who are assigned to protect the lieutenant governor. Merritt found that troopers had transported Perdue to campaign events. The security detail, assigned to the lieutenant governor for protection, has followed that practice since 1989, Merritt found.

Perdue's campaign has reimbursed the state for the miles the troopers drove to campaign events. No laws or rules specifically govern security protection for the lieutenant governor, which is granted at the governor's discretion.

"If the governor chooses not to grant it, then the person that is constitutionally first in line to succeed the governor is without security protection. This would leave the state's leadership in a vulnerable position," Merritt wrote.

Merritt himself had to answer questions about his office's use of state equipment earlier this month when the state Democratic Party released logs showing that a computer in Merritt's office was used to check the party's Web site 217 times in six months.

A spokeswoman for the party said that a computer in Merritt's office was used to look at pages dedicated to Beth Wood, who is running for the Democratic nomination for auditor. Merritt said he routinely reminds his staff not to use state equipment for political purposes and suggested that the criticism may have been lobbed to blunt his audit report on Moore and Perdue.

Reiff said the activity in Merritt's own office shows that public officials may need clearer directions.

"There is certainly political activity if not outright campaigning going on in his own office," Reiff said. "State law is not very clear and doesn't give a whole lot of direction to officials who are running for office."

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