2008 North Carolina gubernatorial election
November 4, 2008
 
Nominee Bev Perdue Pat McCrory
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,146,189 2,001,168
Percentage 50.27% 46.88%
Perdue:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
McCrory:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Tie:      40–50%      50%
Governor before election

Mike Easley
Democratic

 Elected Governor

Bev Perdue
Democratic

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

  • May 6, 2008 – Primary elections.[2]
  • Oct. 10, 2008 – Last day to register to vote in general election.[2]
  • Oct. 16 – Nov. 1, 2008 – "One Stop" registration and early voting[2]
  • November 4, 2008 – General election.[2]

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

Primary results by county:
Perdue
  •   Perdue—71-80%
  •   Perdue—61-70%
  •   Perdue—51-60%
  •   Perdue—41-50%
Moore
  •   Moore—61-70%
  •   Moore—51-60%
  •   Moore—41-50%
Democratic primary results[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bev Perdue 840,342 56.21%
Democratic Richard H. Moore 594,028 39.73%
Democratic Dennis Nielsen 60,628 4.06%
Total votes 1,494,998 100.00%

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.[18] He announced that he was running in his hometown of Jamestown on January 15, 2008.[19]

Debates

Republican candidates Graham, Orr, and Smith held their first debate on October 20, 2007 at High Point University.[20] 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.[21][22]

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.[23] 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.[24]

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.[25] The same was true at another WRAL-TV debate, held on April 15.[26]

The final Republican debate before the primary was held in Asheville, and featured the only appearance by Elbie Powers in a debate.[27]

Results

Primary results by county:
McCrory
  •   McCrory—71-80%
  •   McCrory—61-70%
  •   McCrory—51-60%
  •   McCrory—41-50%
  •   McCrory—31-40%
Smith
  •   Smith—71-80%
  •   Smith—61-70%
  •   Smith—51-60%
  •   Smith—41-50%
  •   Smith—31-40%
Orr
  •   Orr—41-50%
Republican primary results[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Pat McCrory 232,818 46.11%
Republican Fred Smith 186,843 37.00%
Republican Bill Graham 46,861 9.28%
Republican Robert F. Orr 34,007 6.73%
Republican E. Powers 4,444 0.88%
Total votes 504,973 100.00%

General election

Candidates

If he had been elected, McCrory would have been the first mayor of Charlotte to win the state's highest office.[29]

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[30] Tossup October 16, 2008
Rothenberg Political Report[31] Tossup November 2, 2008
Sabato's Crystal Ball[32] Lean D November 3, 2008
Real Clear Politics[33] Tossup November 4, 2008

Polling

Despite a "national Democratic tide" and Perdue's fundraising edge,[34] McCrory led Perdue at first; Perdue slowly gained with help from Barack Obama as the Democratic presidential candidate.[35] Perdue and McCrory remained close, with the two often polling in a statistical tie[34] in what was the closest race for governor in the nation.[36] Perdue ran slightly behind her opponent in polls released the week before the election.[34] 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."[35]

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin
of error		 Bev
Perdue (D)		 Pat
McCrory (R)		 Michael
Munger (L)		 Undecided
Public Policy Polling October 31 – November 2, 2008 2,100 (LV) ± 2.1% 49% 48% 2% 1%
Public Policy Polling October 18–19, 2008 1,200 (LV) ± 2.8% 48% 44% 4% 5%
Public Policy Polling October 11–12, 2008 1,196 (LV) ± 2.8% 45% 44% 4% 7%
Public Policy Polling October 4–5, 2008 1,202 (LV) ± 2.8% 46% 43% 4% 7%
Public Policy Polling October 4–5, 2008 1,041 (LV) ± 3.0% 41% 44% 5% 10%
Public Policy Polling September 17–19, 2008 1,060 (LV) ± 3.0% 44% 43% 6% 7%
Public Policy Polling August 20–23, 2008 904 (LV) ± 3.3% 43% 38% 4% 15%
Public Policy Polling July 23–27, 2008 823 (LV) ± 3.4% 46% 37% 6% 11%
Public Policy Polling June 26–29, 2008 1,048 (LV) ± 3.0% 42% 41% 5% 12%
Public Policy Polling May 28–29, 2008 543 (LV) ± 4.2% 43% 39% 4% 14%
Public Policy Polling May 8–9, 2008 616 (LV) ± 4.0% 45% 45% - 9%
Public Policy Polling February 18, 2008 720 (LV) ± 3.7% 41% 41% - 18%
Public Policy Polling January 21, 2008 809 (LV) ± 3.4% 41% 39% - 20%
Public Policy Polling December 12, 2007 457 (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."[37] 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.[38]

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.[39]

Munger called himself "the only liberal in the race."[40] 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."[41] 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.[42]

Perdue raised $15 million and ran attack ads against McCrory, criticizing him for not being tough enough on illegal immigration.[36]

In October 2008, McCrory received the endorsement of most major newspapers in the state, which typically endorse Democrats.[43] McCrory's candidacy for governor was endorsed by the Raleigh News and Observer,[44] The Charlotte Observer,[45] the Greensboro News & Record,[46] the Winston-Salem Journal,[47] and the UNC-Chapel Hill Daily Tar Heel.[48]

Perdue received the endorsement of actor and director Andy Griffith, who filmed a campaign ad on her behalf.[49]

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.[50] The first debate between the two that was televised live was conducted by WTVD on August 19.[51][52] Another televised debate was held by WRAL-TV on September 9.[53] 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.[54][55][56]

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.[38] He made his first debate appearance with McCrory on September 24 at UNC-TV. Perdue declined to participate in that debate.[57] All three candidates debated for the first time on October 15, in the final debate before the general election.[58] The hour-long debate, sponsored by WTVI, WSOC-TV and the League of Women Voters, aired in several television markets.[59]

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."[60]

Results

North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2008[61]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bev Perdue 2,146,189 50.27% -5.34%
Republican Pat McCrory 2,001,168 46.88% +4.00%
Libertarian Michael C. Munger 121,584 2.85% +1.34%
Majority 145,021 3.40% -9.34%
Turnout 4,268,941 100.00% N/A
Democratic hold

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gary Robertson (November 4, 2008). "Democrat Perdue becomes NC's 1st female governor". Associated Press.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "North Carolina State Board of Elections Calendar". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on June 18, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Four N.C. Governor's Candidates Answer NAACP Questions in Durham". Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. January 28, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  4. ↑ "N.C. Spin debates set". The News & Observer Publishing Company. April 3, 2008. Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  5. ↑ Beckwith, Ryan Teague (May 22, 2007). "Moore: "We need a fresh approach."". The News & Observer Publishing Company. Archived from the original on September 18, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  6. ↑ Bonner, Lynn (April 13, 2008). "Nielsen has principles but lacks staff and cash". The News & Observer Publishing Company. Archived from the original on September 18, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  7. ↑ Johnson, Mark (October 1, 2007). "Perdue announces bid for governor". The News & Observer Publishing Company. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  8. ↑ Johnson, Mark (April 9, 2008). "Dem hopefuls argue issues, criticize absent opponent". NC Policy Watch. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  9. ↑ Mark Johnson and Ben Niolet (April 23, 2008). "Perdue, Moore hold civil debate". The News & Observer Publishing Company. Archived from the original on September 18, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  10. ↑ "North Carolina State Board of Elections". May 27, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  11. 1 2 "North Carolina elections". Archived from the original on May 25, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2008.
  12. ↑ "Graham announces candidacy". The News & Observer Publishing Company. May 17, 2007. Archived from the original on September 18, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  13. ↑ McKinney, Matt (January 15, 2008). "Charlotte Mayor Running For Governor". digtriad.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  14. ↑ "Orr announces bid for North Carolina governor". Triangle Business Journal. January 30, 2007. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  15. ↑ Bonner, Lynn (April 13, 2008). "Crop duster wants to run the state as a corporation". The News & Observer Publishing Company. Archived from the original on September 18, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  16. ↑ "North Carolina Pecan Growers Association Leadership". NC Pecan Growers Association. Archived from the original on November 23, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  17. ↑ "Fred Smith enters governor's race". The News & Observer Publishing Company. March 23, 2007. Archived from the original on September 18, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  18. ↑ Beckwith, Ryan Teague (January 9, 2008). "McCrory files campaign paperwork". The News & Observer Publishing Company. Archived from the original on October 25, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  19. ↑ Ingram, David (January 15, 2008). "McCrory announces run for N.C. governor". The News & Observer Publishing Company. Archived from the original on September 21, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  20. ↑ newsobserver.com | Debate is first for GOP candidates for governor Archived 2007-10-22 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ↑ Perdue, Moore to debate | newsobserver.com projects Archived 2008-10-24 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ↑ "Mattress could be missing girl's - Crime/Safety - NewsObserver.com". www.newsobserver.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  23. ↑ UNC-TV schedules gubernatorial forums | newsobserver.com projects Archived 2008-10-23 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ↑ newsobserver.com | Candidates try to show GOP can-do Archived 2008-09-18 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ↑ "Rivals rip McCrory in GOP debate" Archived 2008-04-15 at the Wayback Machine
  26. ↑ AP: "McCrory a target at debate" Archived 2008-09-18 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ↑ GOP candidates for governor face off in final debate | CITIZEN-TIMES.com | Asheville Citizen-Times
  28. ↑ News & Observer: State Recognizes Libertarians as party Archived 2008-05-27 at the Wayback Machine
  29. ↑ News & Observer: What is the Queen City Curse? Archived 2012-03-07 at the Wayback Machine
  30. ↑ "2008 Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  31. ↑ "2008 Gubernatorial Ratings". Gubernatorial Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  32. ↑ "THE LAST LAST WORD The Crystal Ball's Final Projections for the 2008 Election". Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 3, 2008. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  33. ↑ "2008 North Carolina Governor Race". RealClearPolitics. November 4, 2008. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  34. 1 2 3 Johnson, Mark; Benjamin Niolet (November 2, 2008). "Race for Governor Remains Close". The News & Observer. Archived from the original on January 4, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2008.
  35. 1 2 "Is the Southern Strategy Dead?". American Prospect. October 24, 2008. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
  36. 1 2 Romoser, James (April 16, 2021). "Perdue, in a first, edges McCrory". Winston-Salem Journal (published November 5, 2008). Archived from the original on September 12, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  37. ↑ "Libertarian Duke professor wants to be N.C. governor". Raleigh News and Observer. February 14, 2008. Archived from the original on August 14, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  38. 1 2 Hall, Christine (October 29, 2008). "Michael Munger". Duke Chronicle. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  39. ↑ Zernike, Kate (May 18, 2008). "She Just Might Be President Someday". The New York Times.
  40. ↑ "Statewide Offices". Independent Weekly. October 22, 2008. Archived from the original on November 17, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2008.
  41. ↑ "The Third Man". Reason. October 27, 2008. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
  42. ↑ "The State of Things: Issues Roundup". WUNC. October 28, 2008. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
  43. ↑ "McCrory visits Chapel Hill". Daily Tar Heel. October 30, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  44. ↑ "newsobserver.com | McCrory's time". Archived from the original on October 29, 2008. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  45. ↑ "We recommend McCrory for governor | CharlotteObserver.com & the Charlotte Observer Newspaper". Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  46. ↑ "Editorial endorsement: McCrory for governor : News-Record.com : Greensboro, North Carolina". Archived from the original on October 15, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  47. ↑ "Election '08: Governor". Archived from the original on October 15, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  48. ↑ "McCrory for governor: Charlotte mayor would bring fresh and innovative leadership to Raleigh". Daily Tar Heel. October 26, 2008. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
  49. ↑ "Perdue's Mayberry Miracle?". News & Observer. Archived from the original on July 20, 2008.
  50. ↑ "ABC 11/Associated Press: Crime among topics at NC gubernatorial debate". Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  51. ↑ "ABC11 Eyewitness News' Gubernatorial Debate". Archived from the original on September 18, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  52. ↑ Gov. candidates spar on offshore drilling Archived 2008-09-17 at the Wayback Machine
  53. ↑ Perdue, McCrory bicker over drilling, vouchers
  54. ↑ YouTube: Everybody's Business Coalition Debate Part 1
  55. ↑ News & Observer: McCrory, Perdue offer views on education Archived 2008-12-26 at the Wayback Machine
  56. ↑ News 14: Gubernatorial candidates on education
  57. ↑ News & Observer: McCrory, Munger debate; Perdue sits out
  58. ↑ News & Observer: Governor candidates meet in final debate Archived 2008-10-17 at the Wayback Machine
  59. ↑ WSOC: 3 N.C. Governor's Candidates Meet In Last Debate Archived 2011-05-22 at the Wayback Machine
  60. ↑ News & Observer: Dome's Take: Perdue's missed opportunity Archived 2008-10-23 at the Wayback Machine
  61. ↑ Results
Primaries
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