A Changing Political Race

A recent poll by Public Policy Polling suggests that the entry of Patrick McCrory, the Republican mayor of Charlotte, into North Carolina's gubernatorial race is shaking up the contest.

The new poll of likely voters shows McCrory running even with both major Democratic candidates, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and state Treasurer Richard Moore, in hypothetical general election match-ups. McCrory performs far better than any other GOP candidate and also seems to attract a significant Democratic cross-over vote.

While much of McCrory's appeal may be tied to his name recognition in the Charlotte area and his recent entry into the race, the early numbers suggest that he has the ability to change the dynamics of both the primary and general election campaigns.