Poll: Perdue has 6-point lead in governor race

Raleigh, N.C. — Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue has opened a slight lead over Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory in the North Carolina gubernatorial race, according to a new WRAL News poll.

A survey of 700 likely voters on Wednesday by the polling firm Rasmussen Reports showed Perdue, the Democratic nominee, with 49 percent of the vote and McCrory, the Republican nominee, with 43 percent. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.

Last month, the race was a dead heat, with the candidates separated by one percentage point. McCrory held a slight lead immediately after the state's May 6 primary. In a poll conducted then, he was ahead 45 percent to 39 percent lead.

In the most recent poll, Perdue was supported by 94 percent of black voters surveyed, compared with McCrory’s 5 percent. Among white voters McCrory led 54 percent to Perdue’s 36 percent.

Perdue was strongly supported by female voters by 54 percent to McCrory’s 39 percent. Among men surveyed, 50 percent supported McCrory and 42 percent favored Perdue.

The strongest contingent for Perdue was in voters aged 18 to 29, among whom she was supported by 66 percent to McCrory’s 25 percent. McCrory was supported by the majority of voters surveyed who were 65 and older. He led Perdue 52 percent to 40 percent in that group.

Voters aged 50 to 64-years-old were evenly split at 46 percent for each candidate.