NORTH CAROLINA
Bev Perdue, the Democratic candidate for governor, took time from an Outer Banks vacation on Tuesday to make three campaign stops in northeastern North Carolina, not far from her longtime stomping grounds.
Perdue, who has served as the state's lieutenant governor since 2001, calls New Bern home. She appeared equally at home in Kitty Hawk, where she stopped with her husband, two sons and their families after visits to Elizabeth City and Edenton.
In brief remarks that evening to community leaders and local Democratic Party members at the Hilton Garden Inn Kitty Hawk Pier House, Perdue said she is skilled at working with Republicans and has the political experience in Raleigh to accomplish what the state needs.
"The sheer power of leadership - that's what this election is all about," she told the crowd of about 250. "I do promise you that you'll never look at the paper or turn on the TV and be disappointed. I promise you I'll give you 100 percent."
Perdue, 61, peppered talk about issues - education and health care are paramount to the state's well-being, she said - with humorous anecdotes and folksy stories.
Perdue's day began at 10 a.m. in Elizabeth City, where she complimented the city's mostly filled Main Street and its two "excellent" schools, Elizabeth City State University and College of The Albemarle.
"I believe Main Street has been overlooked for far too long," she said. "Drive down the road to other towns and see the boarded-up store-fronts."
She later visited Chowan Hospital and talked about her Rural HOPE initiative to help small hospitals, according to Tim Crowley with the Purdue campaign.
Perdue said it's an exciting time in North Carolina. She recently met someone who was working to harness the spent heat off appliances, such as laptops and refrigerators, and convert it into energy. "It's the first time I've ever wished I could be younger," she said, "so that I could see how it will look in 50 years."
Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com
Lauren King, (252) 338-2413, lauren.king@pilotonline.com
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