bev perdue

A thread for news, comments, or questions about anything related to the governor's race.

Everything you ever wanted to read about the Big News from yesterday, all below the fold.

Rumors flying fast

North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue (D) is set to announce today that she will not seek reelection in 2012, according to two sources familiar with her plans.

Perdue, who turned 65 earlier this month, was set for a rematch of her 2008 race with former Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory (R), but she has been plagued by low approval ratings and faced some tough odds this year.

Sources say she has labored over her decision about whether to seek a second term. One source said she plans to announce she will step aside in a statement this afternoon.

Update: Please see the following statement from Governor Bev Perdue:

Phil Berger this week did what most Republicans do when they want to divert attention from their failings. They reach into their bag of cheap tricks and pull out a publicity stunt. Instead of working to repair the damage he and Tillis have done to North Carolina's education system and environment, Berger wants to have a meaningless "debate" that will have exactly zero impact on anything.

Perdue was right to decline. We need leaders who are doing the people's business, not playing political games.

Oh brother.

Note: Original headline was Faison dials up the whining, which I have revisited upon request of dear readers.

On Wednesday, the Executive Committee of the Young Democrats of North Carolina voted unanimously to voice our "unqualified support" for Governor Bev Perdue.

As the Chair of our Platform & Resolutions Committee, I believe it is imperative for us to show our support for Governor Perdue and stand with her. Her leadership has made a difference in the lives of many Young Democrats - including mine.

Sneaker Tillis is holding North Carolina hostage because he doesn't have the votes to override the governor's veto of the Racial Justice Act. Governor Perdue should learn the same lesson Barack Obama has learned from his many failed attempts to compromise with crazy. She should tell Thom Tillis to go f/ck himself.

A slow news day at the Charlotte Observer, a fresh dip into this fetid pool.

In a recent interview, Faison said there was no need to challenge Perdue, because he believed she would not file for re-election. It is the sort of whistling-past-the-graveyard assertion he has made frequently in recent weeks. The Perdue campaign laughs off the assertion as nearly delusional. But Faison is unfazed by such denials.

"It doesn't look to me like a serious and dedicated run for governor, and I think in the end she will decide not to do that," Faison said.

To which our friend Gary Pearce had this to say:

Alcoa Fails to Provide Job Guarantees, Blocks Clean Tech Deal
Governor Says No to Corporate Control of NC’s Yadkin River

Bob Geary gets to the point in this commentary today at Indy Week.

So thank you, Rep. Bill Faison, for supplying me with something simple and quick to say. Which is, if you want to run for governor in a Democratic primary against Bev Perdue, by all means, jump right in. Faison vs. Perdue? Seems like you'd get hammered — you're going to run against her from the right? — but you never know.

But you sound a little silly telling the governor she should step aside so you can take her place.

Bev Perdue isn't going to step aside for anyone.

Martha got to this story first.