One candidate yields to another in District 40

It seems like the Rule No. 1 of politics: Don't endorse your opponent.

Stan Morse, who is on the ballot in the Democratic primary May 6 for the N.C. House, 40th District, said Wednesday that he is endorsing his opponent, Sam Hart Brewer.

Morse said he filed as a candidate only because it appeared no one else planned to challenge the Republican incumbent, Rep. Marilyn W. Avila. When he found out another Democrat had signed up, Morse said, he quickly decided to step aside.

"We met for about an hour and a half, saw our politics were identical, and within about 10 days, I came to the conclusion that, though I could easily beat him in the primary, he actually is the better man for the job," Morse said of Brewer. "Not only is he better looking and smarter than me, but he has a better chance of unseating the Republican incumbent."

On Election Day, Morse said, he plans to be outside his polling place in North Raleigh urging his neighbors to vote for Brewer.

Moeser's pay on display

UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor James Moeser's paycheck will be highlighted this weekend in Parade magazine's 25th annual "What People Earn" salary survey.

Moeser, who will step down this year, is listed as earning $352,900 by the magazine, which will be distributed Sunday in U.S. newspapers. The entry on Moeser is in the subsection "What You Can Make in Education." Among five people listed, Moeser's salary is the highest.

In reality, his paycheck is larger.

Last fall, Moeser and N.C. State University Chancellor James Oblinger each received a 15.7 percent raise, bringing their annual salaries to $390,835.

At the time of the raises, UNC President Erskine Bowles said the chancellors were underpaid compared with leaders of similar universities. He also said the increases were, in part, an attempt to lift the pay of leaders at North Carolina's flagship institutions as UNC-CH recruits a new chancellor.

Perdue ad follows rules

The State Board of Elections denied State Treasurer Richard Moore's request to declare an ad supporting his chief rival for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, as express advocacy.

The National Education Association sponsored the radio ad, which supported Perdue's stances on education.

To qualify as express advocacy, an ad has to "use the magic words to support [Perdue's] candidacy," said Kim Strach, deputy director in charge of campaign reporting at the Board of Elections. "There is nowhere in that ad where it says, 'Vote Bev Perdue for governor.' "

Moore's campaign asked the Board of Elections to label it express advocacy on March 27.

On March 28, the Board of Elections mailed the Moore campaign a letter denying the request.

His ad money on hoops

Moore had some money on the NCAA basketball tournament.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidate spent $12,000 on a single ad during the UNC-Kansas game April 5, according to public records of WRAL-TV.

Unfortunately, the Tar Heels' poor showing during the Final Four game meant the ad was viewed by many disgruntled basketball fans.

This isn't the first time Moore has spent big bucks to target men's basketball fans. He spent $11,000 on ads during the UNC and Duke games the weekend of March 21-22.

Perdue has also targeted sports fans, but she spent only $1,500 for one ad during the Maryland-Boston College ACC Tournament game.

Debate tickets

Tickets are available for a possible Democratic presidential debate April 27. The debate would be held at the RBC Center in Raleigh.

A random drawing will determine who receives tickets. To apply for the drawing, visit the N.C. Democratic Party's Web site, www.ncdp.org.

The party would hold the debate in partnership with CBS News and N.C. State University.

Sen. Barack Obama's campaign still has not agreed to the debate.