Despite economic hardships, Gov.

North Carolinians elected their first woman governor Tuesday, elevating Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue to the office over Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory. Perdue replaced Mike Easley, who could not seek a third term.

By The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Apr. 23--The state Republican Party says it will air an ad linking two Democratic candidates for governor to Barack Obama's controversial former minister, despite objections from Sen. John McCain. The ad shows video of the Rev.

By Ryan Teague Beckwith, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Apr. 1--The two Democratic gubernatorial candidates met online for a debate Monday. Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and state Treasurer Richard Moore answered questions from readers of the three-year-old liberal Web site BlueNC.com for an hour.

By Ray Gronberg, The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.C. Mar. 26--DURHAM -- Gubernatorial candidates talked water at Duke University Tuesday, with the leading Democratic contenders agreeing on the need for better planning to counter the impact of droughts but differing on how they'd bring it about. Lt. Gov.