DURHAM - Before an attentive audience in a Baptist church, four candidates for governor said their records show they are the best to tackle issues important to the NAACP.

State Treasurer Richard Moore and Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue -- both Democrats -- and Republican Bob Orr, a former Supreme Court Justice, were joined Saturday by long-shot candidate Dennis Nielsen, a retired Air Force colonel and Democrat who has so far been snubbed on debate and forum invitations.

Three other Republican candidates -- Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, state Sen. Fred Smith and Salisbury lawyer Bill Graham -- did not attend.

The event, sponsored by the NAACP, will be broadcast 7 p.m. Monday on WRAL in the Triangle. Here are some highlights.

Fiery rhetoric on display

At the start, Moore took a strong stance for capital punishment. In response to a question about the case of James Johnson, a man held for three years on rape and murder charges that were eventually dismissed, Moore said that he believes the death penalty is necessary sometimes.

"I do believe that there is Biblical evil that lives among us, and for some crimes you give up the right to be here on Earth with the rest of us," he said.

But, Moore added, he does not think the system is currently being implemented fairly and he wants to make sure it is reformed.

Orr said he supports the death penalty in "limited circumstances," while Perdue said she supports both capital punishment and the de facto moratorium currently in place.

Oops

Perdue's answer on capital punishment included a conspicuous gaffe, as she mentioned some notable cases, including that of Darryl Hunt, who was exonerated from rape and murder charges.

"As the next governor of North Carolina, on my watch I will do whatever it takes to be sure there is not a James Johnson or a Darryl Hunt or a Duke soccer team either," she said, an apparent reference to Duke University lacrosse players who were falsely accused of rape just a few miles from the forum's venue.

Keeping it clean

The candidates were specifically asked to stick to issues and refrain from talking about each other. Despite the prohibition, a few veiled criticisms got through.

In a question on education, Orr drew laughter by pointing out that Moore and Perdue are members of the state Board of Education and perhaps share some blame for problems in the system.

Moore began his opening statement with a veiled attack on Perdue. In past speeches, Moore has said Perdue studies issues but doesn't create real change. On Saturday, he said, "We need to stop studying the same old issues over and over again and start solving them."

At least one audience member said she wanted less sniping and more talking.

"I don't want to hear all the negativity about the others. I just want to hear the facts," said Joyce Siler, 58, assistant director of client services at the Women's Business Center of North Carolina in Durham.

The only Republican

Orr was the lone Republican at an event hosted by the NAACP in a city that leans Democratic. But he won at least one fan.

After the debate, Richard Suggs, 31, an administrative assistant in Raleigh, said "Bobby Orr" had his support, in part because of the candidate's knowledge of the law and the state constitution.

"I know North Carolina is a Democratic state, but he was the best performer," Suggs said.

The colonel

Nielsen has little money or name recognition and spent his time during the debate highlighting his outsider status.

"Politicians have to figure a way to say things without saying anything," Nielsen said. "I don't know how to do that, so what you'll get from me are straightforward, honest answers."

After the debate, N.C. Central University law professor Irving Joyner said Nielsen was impressive. "I think the colonel won it with his honesty and down-home flavor," Joyner said.

Next to the candidates sat three empty chairs with name cards for the missing Republican candidates. The absences bothered Haywood Homsley, 62, of Shelby.

"I'm concerned about the message they sent to us," Homsley said. "We were here to be informed. I just have my concerns about why they did not see fit to participate in this forum."

(Compiled by staff writers Ryan Teague Beckwith and Benjamin Niolet and correspondents Cori Sue Morris, Emily Stephenson and Karin Dryhurst.)