State Treasurer Richard Moore made several stops in Wilson Wednesday, still hoping to make up ground in the Democratic primary for governor.
Moore started the day with a radio appearance with Wilson County Sheriff Wayne Gay, then visited Darden Middle School. Later in the morning, he met with people at the Wilson County Senior Center before stopping at Parker's Barbecue for a meet-and-greet lunch where he talked with about 50 people.
"I'm pushing hard here at the end. I want to do everything I can while people are paying attention," Moore said in an interview at the Wilson Daily Times, which concluded his Wilson mini-blitz. "My message does seem to be resonating with people about jobs and economic stimulus."
But will he reach enough people to make a difference? He has been trailing Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue in the polls for weeks and large numbers of N.C. voters have already gone to the one-stop early voting polls, which close on Saturday.
Polls across the state will be open from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Tuesday for voting.
The governor's race is been overshadowed for many people by the Democratic presidential primary, but Moore still believes it could benefit Democrats in the long-run.
"It's not necessarily a bad thing that people are getting excited about politics, even if it's not our race," he said.
Voters who are still making up their minds should consider "who has the track record of getting things done. Right now, talk is cheap. What did you do when you had the opportunity," he said.
If elected, Moore proposes to raise the minimum wage, to decrease property taxes for senior citizens and to make community college tuition-free for two years for N.C. high school graduates.
Perdue has made similar promises lately, Moore said, "but who is best between the two of us at getting things done?"
He also contends that he matches up better against Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, the Republican front-runner.
"I am well-suited to beat him on his home turf," Moore said.
mshaw@wilsontimes.com | 265-7878