Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory won the GOP nomination for governor Tuesday, setting up contest between a state government outsider and longtime insider Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue in the general election.

McCrory was the last entry in a five-person race but quickly outpaced his opponents, who included a prominent trial lawyer, a state senator and homebuilder, and a former state Supreme Court justice.

McCrory is the Republican some Democrats predicted could be the toughest opponent in the general election. He has largely steered away from hot-button social issues and concentrated on prudent government spending and strengthening the judicial system. In his victory speech, he reached out to Democrats who supported state Treasurer Richard Moore. Moore finished a distant second to Perdue in the Democrats' contest.

McCrory said he was looking forward to "many, many" debates with Perdue, a legislator for 14 years before serving two terms as lieutenant governor.

"We entered this race just a short 13 weeks ago because we wanted to change the culture of North Carolina government," McCrory said. "We need to debate the culture of the status quo, the old politics of North Carolina. I plan to bring a new culture."

Brad Crone, a Democratic strategist, said McCrory had the potential to draw Democratic votes.

"I'm concerned about McCrory because he's more of a centrist candidate," Crone said.

With 97 percent of precincts reporting, McCrory had 46 percent of the vote, enough to avoid a runoff. State Sen. Fred Smith of Clayton had 37 percent.

Smith conceded at 10 p.m., and promised to help McCrory win in November.

"We're going to be good losers," said Smith, a former high school football star. "I learned that on the football field."

McCrory won his home county of Mecklenburg and surrounding counties. Smith found his support mostly in smaller counties, though he also was ahead in Wake County.

Bill Graham, a Salisbury lawyer, and former state Supreme Court justice Bob Orr finished well behind McCrory, as did farmer Elbie Powers.

The five-way race for the GOP nomination for governor became, essentially, a two-way contest between Smith, a wealthy homebuilder from Clayton, and McCrory, the seven-term mayor.

Smith, 66, started his campaign last year with an unconventional approach. He wrote a biography that he mailed free to voters, held barbecues in all 100 counties and had country singer Lee Greenwood perform at campaign stops.

A millionaire housing developer, Smith raised about $1 million for his campaign and spent more than $2.4 million of his own money, according to campaign finance reports filed last week.

Smith has defended his decision to use limited television and radio ads, saying he wanted to talk directly with voters, and emphasized his support for constitutional amendments to limit budget increases and define marriage as between a man and a woman, as state law already does.

Later in the campaign, he and McCrory engaged in a negative air war. McCrory questioned Smith's road-paving contracts, and Smith implied that McCrory was running to help only his city.

McCrory, 51, entered the race in January and soon leapt into serious competition with Smith. He immediately ran television ads introducing himself and his positions to voters.

McCrory ran as an outsider, criticizing government waste and political scandals. He raised about $1.2 million.

Jerry Santoni, 50, of Mooresville said he voted for McCrory because thinks the mayor is ready to take on Raleigh.

"You've got to have a plan, not just a vision, and I think he's got plans to shake up Raleigh," he said. "I think he's done a fairly decent job in Charlotte, and I think he's the most qualified."

Smith's work history, which includes law, farming and running house-building and road-paving businesses, impressed Carolyn Whitley, 61, who voted for him. Smith has built homes in Johnston County and is a former county commissioner.

Whitley, who owns a construction company in Smithfield, said Smith's work ethic influenced her decision.

(Correspondent Matt Tomsic and McClatchy staff writers David Ingram , Benjamin Niolet and April Bethea contributed to this report.)