2008 North Carolina gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:2008 North Carolina gubernatorial election
Country:North Carolina
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2004 North Carolina gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2004
Next Election:2012 North Carolina gubernatorial election
Next Year:2012
Election Date:November 4, 2008
Image1:File:Beverly Perdue official photo.jpg
Nominee1:Bev Perdue
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:2,146,189
Percentage1:50.27%
Nominee2:Pat McCrory
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:2,001,168
Percentage2:46.88%
Map Size:325px
Governor
Before Election:Mike Easley
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Bev Perdue
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 2008 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2008, coinciding with the presidential, U.S. Senate, U.S. House elections, Council of State and statewide judicial elections. Democrat Bev Perdue won the election.[1] With a margin of 3.39%, this election was the closest race of the 2008 gubernatorial election cycle.

Because incumbent Governor Mike Easley was term-limited, the open-seat race was contested between Democrat Beverly Perdue, Republican Pat McCrory, and Libertarian Michael Munger. Likewise, Democrat Walter H. Dalton, Republican Robert Pittenger and Libertarian Phillip Rhodes vied to replace term-limited Lieutenant Governor Perdue.

Primaries

Candidates Richard Moore, Dennis Nielsen, Robert Orr, and Bev Perdue took part in a forum on January 26, sponsored by the state chapter of the NAACP.[3]

The statewide syndicated TV program, NC Spin, held debates for both parties' candidates in April.[4]

Democratic

Candidates

Campaign

Moore and Nielsen appeared on the edition of NC Spin broadcast April 13 on most stations, but Perdue declined the invitation to participate.[8] Perdue and Moore met for their final pre-primary debate at WRAL-TV, which was broadcast on several stations across the state on April 22.[9]

On May 6, 2008, Perdue won the Democratic nomination for governor, defeating State Treasurer Moore and Nielsen.[10]

Results

Republican

Candidates

Campaign

The Raleigh News & Observer reported on January 9, 2008 that McCrory had filed the necessary paperwork with the State Board of Elections to run for governor.[17] He announced that he was running in his hometown of Jamestown on January 15, 2008.[18]

Debates

Republican candidates Graham, Orr, and Smith held their first debate on October 20, 2007 at High Point University.[19] The two Democratic candidates held their first debate at the annual conference of the N.C. School Boards Association on Nov. 6, 2007, which hosted a Republican candidates' debate the same day.[20] [21]

UNC-TV invited the three announced Republican candidates and two announced Democratic candidates to participate in the campaign's first debates (officially called "forums") to air on statewide television. Each forum is intended to focus on a single topic: on Jan. 10, the state's economy; on Feb. 7, health care; and on April 24, education.[22] Video of the forums is available on the UNC-TV website.

The Republican candidates, now joined by new challenger Pat McCrory, debated on WRAL-TV on January 17. The debate was also broadcast on stations in Charlotte and Wilmington.[23]

McCrory, Orr, Graham, and Smith met in a televised debate held by WTVI in Charlotte on April 3. Media accounts said that McCrory was the primary target of attacks by his rivals.[24] The same was true at another WRAL-TV debate, held on April 15.[25]

The final Republican debate before the primary was held in Asheville, and featured the only appearance by Elbie Powers in a debate.[26]

Results

General election

Candidates

If he had been elected, McCrory would have been the first mayor of Charlotte to win the state's highest office.[28]

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report[29] October 16, 2008
Rothenberg Political Report[30] November 2, 2008
Sabato's Crystal Ball[31] November 3, 2008
Real Clear Politics[32] November 4, 2008

Polling

Despite a "national Democratic tide" and Perdue's fundraising edge,[33] McCrory led Perdue at first; Perdue slowly gained with help from Barack Obama as the Democratic presidential candidate.[34] Perdue and McCrory remained close, with the two often polling in a statistical tie[33] in what was the closest race for governor in the nation. Perdue ran slightly behind her opponent in polls released the week before the election.[33] Pundits speculated that Perdue was hurt by current Democratic Governor Mike Easley's decreasing popularity due to the aftermath of the 2008 Financial Crisis, and McCrory's efforts to tag her as part of corruption in Raleigh—consultants mentioned Perdue's "difficulty of being the candidate of continuity in a change election."[34]

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Bev
Perdue (D)		Pat
McCrory (R)		Michael
Munger (L)		Undecided
Public Policy PollingOctober 31 – November 2, 20082,100 (LV)± 2.1%49%48%2%1%
Public Policy PollingOctober 18–19, 20081,200 (LV)± 2.8%48%44%4%5%
Public Policy PollingOctober 11–12, 20081,196 (LV)± 2.8%45%44%4%7%
Public Policy PollingOctober 4–5, 20081,202 (LV)± 2.8%46%43%4%7%
Public Policy PollingOctober 4–5, 20081,041 (LV)± 3.0%41%44%5%10%
Public Policy PollingSeptember 17–19, 20081,060 (LV)± 3.0%44%43%6%7%
Public Policy PollingAugust 20–23, 2008904 (LV)± 3.3%43%38%4%15%
Public Policy PollingJuly 23–27, 2008823 (LV)± 3.4%46%37%6%11%
Public Policy PollingJune 26–29, 20081,048 (LV)± 3.0%42%41%5%12%
Public Policy PollingMay 28–29, 2008543 (LV)± 4.2%43%39%4%14%
Public Policy PollingMay 8–9, 2008616 (LV)± 4.0%45%45%-9%
Public Policy PollingFebruary 18, 2008720 (LV)± 3.7%41%41%-18%
Public Policy PollingJanuary 21, 2008809 (LV)± 3.4%41%39%-20%
Public Policy PollingDecember 12, 2007457 (LV)± 4.5%41%39%-20%

Campaign

Early in 2008, Libertarian nominee Munger called Perdue a "Stepford Wife" and said the Republican nominees were "circus clowns."[35] Prior to May 2008, the North Carolina Libertarian Party and Munger gathered 100,000 signatures of voters in order to qualify to appear on North Carolina's ballot. They, along with the Green Party, sued the state unsuccessfully over the ballot access rules. Munger appeared as one of two keynote speakers at the national Libertarian convention in Denver in May 2008.[36]

When Hillary Clinton dropped out of the 2008 presidential election The New York Times mentioned Perdue as a potential pick for Obama's Vice President.[37]

Munger called himself "the only liberal in the race."[38] Munger took more socially liberal positions on many issues than Democratic candidate Perdue. "One reason I haven't been allowed in all the debates is that I'm taking votes from the Democrats. Sixty percent of my supporters are voting for Obama. I'll talk about gay marriage, and Perdue isn't, or doesn't want to."[39] While Democratic candidate Perdue took a hard line on illegal immigration similar to that of Republican Pat McCrory, Munger took a position more aligned with Barack Obama.[40]

Perdue raised $15 million and ran attack ads against McCrory, criticizing him for not being tough enough on illegal immigration.[41]

In October 2008, McCrory received the endorsement of most major newspapers in the state, which typically endorse Democrats.[42] McCrory's candidacy for governor was endorsed by the Raleigh News and Observer,[43] The Charlotte Observer,[44] the Greensboro News & Record,[45] the Winston-Salem Journal,[46] and the UNC-Chapel Hill Daily Tar Heel.[47]

Perdue received the endorsement of actor and director Andy Griffith, who filmed a campaign ad on her behalf.[48]

Perdue defeated McCrory and Munger on November 4, 2008 to win the election.

Debates

The first general election debate between Perdue and McCrory was a forum at the North Carolina Bar Association meeting in Atlantic Beach on June 21.[49] The first debate between the two that was televised live was conducted by WTVD on August 19.[50] [51] Another televised debate was held by WRAL-TV on September 9.[52] Next, McCrory and Perdue met for a debate on education issues at SAS Institute on September 19. The debate was sponsored by business and education groups and was covered by News 14 Carolina.[53] [54] [55]

Duke University professor and Libertarian candidate Michael Munger made history as the first third-party candidate to participate in a live, televised gubernatorial debate in North Carolina.[36] He made his first debate appearance with McCrory on September 24 at UNC-TV. Perdue declined to participate in that debate.[56] All three candidates debated for the first time on October 15, in the final debate before the general election.[57] The hour-long debate, sponsored by WTVI, WSOC-TV and the League of Women Voters, aired in several television markets.[58]

Analysts said that McCrory tended to perform better than Perdue in the debates, particularly in "sit-down debates that allowed more back-and-forth between the candidates."[59]

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

See also

External links

Primaries

Notes and References

  1. News: Democrat Perdue becomes NC's 1st female governor . Gary Robertson . 2008-11-04 . Associated Press.
  2. Web site: North Carolina State Board of Elections Calendar. North Carolina State Board of Elections. 2008-11-29. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100618211919/http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/content.aspx?id=72. 2010-06-18.
  3. Web site: Four N.C. Governor's Candidates Answer NAACP Questions in Durham. January 28, 2008. Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc.. 2008-11-29.
  4. Web site: N.C. Spin debates set. April 3, 2008. The News & Observer Publishing Company. 2008-11-29. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081024212358/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/n_c_spin_debates_set. October 24, 2008.
  5. Web site: Moore: "We need a fresh approach." . Beckwith . Ryan Teague . May 22, 2007 . The News & Observer Publishing Company . 2008-11-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080918133340/http://www.newsobserver.com/front/story/576689.html . September 18, 2008 .
  6. Web site: Nielsen has principles but lacks staff and cash . Bonner . Lynn . Apr 13, 2008 . The News & Observer Publishing Company . 2008-11-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080918134123/http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1035420.html . September 18, 2008 .
  7. Web site: Perdue announces bid for governor . Johnson . Mark . October 1, 2007 . The News & Observer Publishing Company . 2008-11-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081006035544/http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/722630.html . October 6, 2008 .
  8. Web site: Dem hopefuls argue issues, criticize absent opponent. Johnson. Mark. April 9, 2008. NC Policy Watch. 2008-11-29.
  9. Web site: Perdue, Moore hold civil debate . Mark Johnson and Ben Niolet . April 23, 2008 . The News & Observer Publishing Company . 2008-11-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080918134511/http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1046891.html . September 18, 2008 .
  10. Web site: North Carolina State Board of Elections. May 27, 2008. 2008-11-29.
  11. Web site: Graham announces candidacy . May 17, 2007 . The News & Observer Publishing Company . 2008-11-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080918133645/http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/575022.html . September 18, 2008 .
  12. Web site: Charlotte Mayor Running For Governor. https://archive.today/20130122071420/http://www.digtriad.com/news/local_state/article.aspx?storyid=96291&catid=57. dead. January 22, 2013. McKinney. Matt. January 15, 2008. digtriad.com. 2008-11-29.
  13. News: Orr announces bid for North Carolina governor. January 30, 2007. Triangle Business Journal. 2008-11-29.
  14. Web site: Crop duster wants to run the state as a corporation . Bonner . Lynn . April 13, 2008 . The News & Observer Publishing Company . 2008-11-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080918134327/http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1035423.html . September 18, 2008 .
  15. Web site: North Carolina Pecan Growers Association Leadership. NC Pecan Growers Association. 2008-11-29. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081123031425/http://www.ncpecans.org/NCPGAleadership.htm. 2008-11-23.
  16. Web site: Fred Smith enters governor's race . March 23, 2007 . The News & Observer Publishing Company . 2008-11-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080918132140/http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/556651.html . September 18, 2008 .
  17. Web site: McCrory files campaign paperwork. Beckwith. Ryan Teague. January 9, 2008. The News & Observer Publishing Company. 2008-11-29. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081025031125/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/mccrory_files_campaign_paperwork. October 25, 2008.
  18. Web site: McCrory announces run for N.C. governor . Ingram . David . January 15, 2008 . The News & Observer Publishing Company . 2008-11-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080921194103/http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/882030.html . September 21, 2008 .
  19. http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/744259.html newsobserver.com | Debate is first for GOP candidates for governor
  20. http://projects.newsobserver.com/blogs/perdue_moore_to_debate Perdue, Moore to debate | newsobserver.com projects
  21. Web site: Mattress could be missing girl's - Crime/Safety - NewsObserver.com . www.newsobserver.com . 6 June 2022 . https://archive.today/20120904080848/http://www.newsobserver.com/1565/story/762356.html . 4 September 2012 . dead.
  22. http://projects.newsobserver.com/blogs/unc_tv_schedules_gubernatorial_forums UNC-TV schedules gubernatorial forums | newsobserver.com projects
  23. http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/888697.html newsobserver.com | Candidates try to show GOP can-do
  24. http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1024505.html "Rivals rip McCrory in GOP debate"
  25. http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1038735.html AP: "McCrory a target at debate"
  26. http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880502004#SlideFrame_19 GOP candidates for governor face off in final debate | CITIZEN-TIMES.com | Asheville Citizen-Times
  27. http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/state_recognizes_libertarians_as_party News & Observer: State Recognizes Libertarians as party
  28. http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/faq/what_is_the_queen_city_curse News & Observer: What is the Queen City Curse?
  29. Web site: 2008 Governor Race ratings. The Cook Political Report. en. March 4, 2021.
  30. Web site: 2008 Gubernatorial Ratings . Gubernatorial Ratings . The Rothenberg Political Report . May 25, 2021.
  31. Web site: THE LAST LAST WORD The Crystal Ball's Final Projections for the 2008 Election . Sabato's Crystal Ball . 3 November 2008 . December 25, 2021 .
  32. Web site: November 4, 2008 . 2008 North Carolina Governor Race. March 5, 2021 . RealClearPolitics.
  33. News: Mark . Johnson . Benjamin Niolet . Race for Governor Remains Close . . 2008-11-02 . 2008-11-24 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090104115742/http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1278609.html . January 4, 2009 .
  34. Is the Southern Strategy Dead?. American Prospect. 2008-10-24. 2008-10-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20110810205539/http://prospect.org/cs/articles?article=is_the_southern_strategy_dead. 2011-08-10. dead.
  35. News: Libertarian Duke professor wants to be N.C. governor . . 2008-02-14 . 2018-12-19 . https://archive.today/20130814223603/http://web.archive.org/web/20080709085051/http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/943804.html . 2013-08-14 . dead.
  36. News: Michael Munger . Hall . Christine . 2008-10-29 . . 2018-12-19 .
  37. News: Kate . Zernike . She Just Might Be President Someday . The New York Times . 2008-05-18 .
  38. News: Statewide Offices . . 2008-10-22 . 2008-11-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081117165948/http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A267320 . 2008-11-17 . dead .
  39. News: The Third Man . Reason . 2008-10-27 . 2008-10-28 .
  40. News: The State of Things: Issues Roundup . . 2008-10-28 . 2008-10-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716090306/http://wunc.org/tsot/archive/sot1028abc.mp3/view . 2011-07-16 . dead .
  41. News: Romoser. James. April 16, 2021. Perdue, in a first, edges McCrory. Winston-Salem Journal. November 5, 2008. live. September 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210912103112/https://journalnow.com/perdue-in-a-first-edges-mccrory/article_381b09eb-7177-5312-9dfb-73b8defd5a0e.html. September 12, 2021.
  42. News: McCrory visits Chapel Hill . . 2008-10-30 . 2008-11-25 .
  43. Web site: newsobserver.com McCrory's time . 2013-01-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081029073227/http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/editorials/story/1269143.html . 2008-10-29 .
  44. Web site: We recommend McCrory for governor | CharlotteObserver.com & the Charlotte Observer Newspaper . 2012-05-20 . dead . https://archive.today/20120722091204/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/story/233637.html . 2012-07-22 .
  45. Web site: Editorial endorsement: McCrory for governor : News-Record.com : Greensboro, North Carolina . 2008-11-25 . 2008-10-15 . https://archive.today/20081015140427/http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/10/10/article/editorial_endorsement_mccrory_for_governor . dead .
  46. Web site: Election '08: Governor . 2008-11-25 . 2008-10-15 . https://archive.today/20081015032703/http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2008/oct/12/election-08-governor/ . dead .
  47. News: McCrory for governor: Charlotte mayor would bring fresh and innovative leadership to Raleigh . . 2008-10-26 . 2008-10-28 .
  48. News: Perdue's Mayberry Miracle? . News & Observer . 20 July 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080720134001/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/perdues_mayberry_miracle . dead.
  49. Web site: ABC 11/Associated Press: Crime among topics at NC gubernatorial debate . 2019-08-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110521094932/http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news%2Fstate&id=6219615 . 2011-05-21 . dead .
  50. Web site: ABC11 Eyewitness News' Gubernatorial Debate . 2019-08-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080918173931/http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news%2Fpolitics&id=6337624 . 2008-09-18 . live .
  51. http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1185061.html Gov. candidates spar on offshore drilling
  52. http://www.wral.com/news/local/politics/story/3516756/ Perdue, McCrory bicker over drilling, vouchers
  53. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtzwGfaJ-iY YouTube: Everybody's Business Coalition Debate Part 1
  54. http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1225622.html News & Observer: McCrory, Perdue offer views on education
  55. http://news14.com/content/top_stories/599515/gubernatorial-candidates-on-education/Default.aspx News 14: Gubernatorial candidates on education
  56. http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1231357.html News & Observer: McCrory, Munger debate; Perdue sits out
  57. http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1256941.html News & Observer: Governor candidates meet in final debate
  58. http://www.wsoctv.com/politics/17724948/detail.html WSOC: 3 N.C. Governor's Candidates Meet In Last Debate
  59. http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/domes_take_perdues_missed_opportunity News & Observer: Dome's Take: Perdue's missed opportunity

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