RALEIGH, NC -- Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton has edged former U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge in the Democratic primary for North Carolina governor, setting up a general election race with Republican Pat McCrory.
Dalton had 46 percent of the vote compared to 38 percent for Etheridge with about two-thirds of the precincts reporting unofficial results in the six-candidate primary. Dalton had enough to avoid a runoff -- the threshold is above 40 percent. State Rep. Bill Faison was a distant third at 6 percent.
Dalton is a Rutherfordton attorney and former state senator who was elected lieutenant governor in 2008. He got in the governor's race when incumbent Beverly Perdue decided not to seek re-election.
McCrory lapped the field of five other candidates in Tuesday's Republican primary, receiving 84 percent in incomplete returns.
Read statements from Dalton and McCrory by clicking on the links to the left.