McCrory Announces Campaign

Republican Pat McCrory is in his first full day on the campaign trail for Governor.

Jeff Tiberii: On Tuesday night in a Greensboro suburb just blocks from where he grew up McCrory made the symbolic first step of his Gubernatorial bid:

Pat McCrory: Ladies and Gentlemen I am proud to return back home to officially announce that I will run for Governor because we’re going to fix this broken government and we’re going to fix this broken economy here in North Carolina.

The former seven-term mayor of Charlotte spoke for about 20 minutes in front of a standing-room only crowd. McCrory previewed what his administration would look like if elected:

McCrory: We will create jobs because as Governor we will get into the energy exploration business, both off shore and in-land.

He also plans to fight government mandates such as a requirement to buy health insurance, and will work to reduce corporate taxes. There are several potential Democratic challengers in the wake of Governor Bev Perdue’s recent decision not to seek re-election. McCrory narrowly lost to Perdue in the 2008 Governor’s race. On Wednesday he will campaign in Hendersonville, New Bern and Wilmington.