For Immediate Release	Contact: Amy Auth
July 2, 2008	(704) 714-4344

She’s Back: The Return of ‘Negative Bev’
Perdue uses half-truths to distort McCrory’s record

Charlotte, N.C. – McCrory for Governor Campaign Manager Richard Hudson today made the following statement in response to Bev Perdue’s negative attacks on Pat McCrory:

“Here comes ‘Negative Bev’ again, attacking Pat with half-truths just like she did with Richard Moore in the primary.  Now for the rest of the story:

“Perdue attacked Pat for supporting vouchers when she herself has a long record of supporting state funded private school vouchers. [She voted for a program that provides $1,900 for every North Carolina resident attending private college for a total cost of $49.7 million for the 2006-2007 fiscal year.  As lieutenant governor, she has signed this appropriation into law every year and as a legislator voted to increase it.]

 “Today, Perdue also distorted Pat’s record on the lottery by conveniently omitting his written response to the N.C. Family Policy Council survey.  (http://ncfamily.org/voterguide2008/nc-council/council.php?raceInput=Governor)

“‘Negative Bev’ is intentionally trying to mislead the voters by omitting Pat’s actual response to a questionnaire that was very similar to what he said in his speech today.  Pat’s position then and now is that repealing the lottery would be good, but you can’t do it now because the money has already been budgeted for future years.

“Does Beverly Perdue stand behind the lottery program she helped create – a program that was born in scandal, led to corruption and continues to have problems? Does she support lottery employees receiving larger pay increases than teachers and state employees?  Does she agree that the lottery director should make $246,000 per year—far more than even our best teachers?

“Does Beverly Perdue support more money being taken from education to pay for prizes and administration costs?  Does she support a lottery formula that gives more money to counties that are losing students than to counties that are growing and need new schools?

“Pat McCrory thinks there needs to be changes to the lottery program as it exists, while it’s obvious that ‘Negative Bev’ once again supports a failed status quo.

“These negative attacks are silly and Pat once again renews his call for the lieutenant governor to participate in a series of joint appearances in every part of the state to discuss issues. North Carolina’s voters deserve better than a candidate who hides behind negative press releases.”