RALEIGH, N.C. — The State Board of Elections holds an emergency meeting Thursday to investigate allegations against a group seeking to elect Republican governors nationwide.

The board plans to discuss the potential that the Republican Governors Association may start running ads again in North Carolina.

The elections board last month fined the RGA nearly $200,000 after deciding the group ran an illegal television ad that clearly advocated for the election of gubernatorial candidate Patrick Ballantine.

The RGA also was told by the board to register as a political action committee, meaning it would have to abide by strict financing rules on campaign ads.

Democratic Governor Mike Easley's campaign alleged Wednesday that the group planned to spend nearly $500,000 for television ads in the state's three largest markets to help Ballantine starting Thursday.

Easley campaign manager Jay Reiff says the information came from the people that buy ads for Easley's campaign.

An RGA spokesman and the group's attorney didn't return phone calls seeking comment.