RALEIGH (AP) -- A state auditor's report says Governor Mike Easley should do more to help North Carolina attract new businesses.

Thirteen of 30 respondents in a survey of local economic development groups said Easley fails to play a key and active role in business recruitment. One respondent says the second-term Democrat "routinely" misses important events. Another group said he should make recruiting "seem as if it is one of his greatest priorities."

The Commerce Department issued a sharp rebuke of the report, saying Easley works behind the scenes to develop policies to make North Carolina more attractive to business.

Easley spokesman Seth Effron says the governor regularly meets and calls executives. Effron would not elaborate because of confidentiality agreements.

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