McCrory highlights Democratic support

CHARLOTTE — Republican Pat McCrory says he’s been elected mayor seven times in Charlotte with help from Democratic voters.

Now he’s trying to prove that current and former Democratic elected officials like him for governor, too.

McCrory’s campaign put out a release this week unveiling three current Democratic mayors and a former legislator who have endorsed him over their party’s nominee, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue.

They are former state Rep. Ronnie Smith of Carteret County, Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton, Salisbury Mayor Susan Kluttz and Clayton Mayor Jody McLeod.

McCrory wants to attract more eastern North Carolina Democrats to choose him over Perdue. Republican gubernatorial candidates have fared poorly Down East in the last two elections.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)