McCrory to give first State of the State speech

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory is getting ready for his first State of the State address. Watch the speech at 7 p.m. LIVE on WRAL-TV and WRAL.com.

Posted 9:01 a.m. Feb 18, 2013 — Updated 12:03 a.m. Feb 19, 2013

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory is getting ready for his first State of the State speech.

The former Charlotte mayor was scheduled to visit the House chamber Monday evening to speak to a joint session of the General Assembly in Raleigh and before a statewide television audience. He should get a hearty welcome at the capitol since fellow Republicans control the legislature.

Pat McCrory Promise Tracker

McCrory has talked for more than a year about how he'd lead the state and has spent the last month since taking office learning the ropes of state government. Medicaid, unemployment insurance and state infrastructure have been on his things-to-do list so far.

David McLennan, a political science professor at William Peace University, says McCrory must get specific Monday night.

“This is an opportunity for North Carolinians to really get to know Pat McCrory as governor," McLennan said. "He campaigned on fixing state government. That was one of his major campaign promises. Now he’s got to deliver. So, tonight’s speech will give him an opportunity to talk about more in detail how he wants to do that."

Previous governors have used the biennial address to highlight provisions in their upcoming two-year budgets. McCrory's budget isn't expected until mid-March.

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