Local Politics

Negative ads fill airwaves in last days of campaign

Most polls show the race for North Carolina governor could go either way, but with time running out before Tuesday's election, the candidates are sniping at each other instead of focusing on issues like the economy or education.

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RALEIGH, N.C. — Most polls show the race for North Carolina governor could go either way, and with time running out before Tuesday's election, the candidates are sniping at each other rather than focusing on issues like the economy or education.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and Republican Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory are waging a media war amid their campaign appearances.

Perdue keeps hammering away with TV and radio ads that claim McCrory supports shipping in trash. McCrory has demanded she and radio stations drop misleading commercials.

"She's willing to say and do anything to keep power," McCrory said. "She's obviously running negative ads, and what's worse, they're inaccurate and false ads. We ask that this ad be removed from the airwaves immediately."

Perdue stands by the contrast ads.

"I've never been positive on the issues. I've always said I'll be positive about airing any kind of commercial aimed at the personal side of my opponent," she said.

A WRAL News poll released Tuesday showed Perdue clinging to a 46 to 44 percent lead, with 9 percent of voters undecided.

"I'm very hopeful. I feel very upbeat. If I had to describe how I felt, I'd say the wind is at our back," Perdue said.

She said she thinks record voter turnout will help her, noting the majority of early voters have been Democrats.

McCrory said he thinks he will pick up Democratic and Republican undecided voters to win.

"We feel very confident that we're going to win, but we think it's going to be a very close race," he said.

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