For Democrats, the choice is Moore

North Carolina Democrats will have plenty of reasons to go to the polls May 6 for the party primary. Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are battling for North Carolina's 115 delegates at stake in the primary, with the outcome potentially determining the eventual party nominee.

But another race -- for governor -- might hold a greater long-term impact for the state. Two strong candidates -- Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and state Treasurer Richard Moore -- are battling for the nomination in campaigns that have been harsh and at times mean-spirited. A third candidate, Dennis Nielsen, does not have the funding for a serious campaign.

Perdue was the early leader in public opinion polls and has won endorsements from a number of organizations, including the N.C. Association of Educators. After working her way up in the N.C. Senate, where she became an insider with considerable clout, Perdue has served two terms as lieutenant governor. She led the state's response to the Base Realignment and Closing commission and also cast the tie-breaking vote in the duplicitous passage of the state lottery.

As a candidate, Perdue has preferred to give speeches that did not require give-and-take with the media or constituents. Her campaign commercials have promised all manner of benefits without explaining how the state would pay for these gains or exactly how they would work.

In contrast, Moore has engaged in direct campaigning and has welcomed questions from the press and constituents. Like Perdue, he has made a lot of promises, but he has backed up his promises with full explanations and financing information.

For example, he would make community college tuition free to all students by taking $50 million of the tobacco settlement money now going to the Golden LEAF Foundation. Free college tuition can do far more for tobacco-dependent communities than any civic center or research project. Moore's idea is sound and sensible. He would also double the earnings threshold to $50,000 for senior citizens to qualify for the homestead exemption, allowing retirees to keep their homes and eliminate the waiting list for child care subsidies.

He proposes a $1.5 billion transportation bond to catch up on the state's highway backlog, but only after real reforms that ensure "transportation dollars are being spent wisely and transparently."

Moore proudly proclaims "I am a bean counter," and he has proven it with his wise and profitable handling of the state's pension fund -- a record that has brought him national acclaim.

The choice in the Democratic primary is between an insider candidate who believes it's her turn to be governor and a candidate who has the experience, skills and straightforward openness to serve the state well.