N.C. governors candidates agree to take part in 5 debates

RALEIGH - The two major-party candidates for governor said Wednesday they have agreed to participate in at least five debates.

It is a sign that Democratic Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and Republican Pat McCrory, Charlotte's mayor, are more willing to face each other in person than their predecessors were during previous campaigns for governor.

``I look forward to the debates and the opportunity to have a real discussion about the issues facing North Carolina,'' Perdue said in a statement. Added McCrory campaign manager Richard Hudson: ``Pat has agreed to debate anywhere and everywhere.''

Four of the debates are to be televised - twice the number in which the candidates in the 2000 and 2004 general election race participated. The first debate, meanwhile, will be held at June 21 at the N.C. Bar Association's annual meeting at Atlantic Beach.

McCrory has also suggested holding a series of joint appearances with Perdue across the state, an idea that sounds similar to Republican presidential candidate John McCain's offer to hold of ``town hall'' meetings with presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama.

``We should go beyond just a few structured, formal debates,'' McCrory said in a statement. ``Instead of formalized debates with sound bite answers, we should allow the voters the chance to hear where we stand on issues and how we would lead the state as governor.''

But Perdue's campaign seems to be satisfied with the appearances she had accepted.

``Bev Perdue has already committed to an extensive series of five debates across North Carolina - more than any of North Carolina's recent campaigns for governor - and she looks forward to starting the series next week in Atlantic Beach,'' campaign spokesman David Kochman said.

The campaigns said the televised debates would be held on:

- Aug. 19, hosted by television station WTVD in Durham.

- Sept. 9, hosted by Capitol Broadcasting Co., the parent company of WRAL-TV in Raleigh.

- Sept. 19 in Cary, sponsored by the Public School Forum and the ``Education: Everybody's Business Coalition.'' The debate will be aired on cable television stations statewide.

- Oct. 15 in Charlotte, sponsored by the WSOC-TV, WTVI-TV and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg League of Women Voters.

The two candidates have also agreed to appear separately July 18 at the North Carolina Press Association's summer convention in Asheville. McCrory said he has also accepted a debate July 20, sponsored by the N.C. Association of Broadcasters.

Libertarian Party candidate Mike Munger is also running for governor. He didn't return phone messages Wednesday seeking comment and it wasn't immediately clear whether he would attempt to participate.