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Every day brings more bad news for Mike Easley, but it could be worse.

He could still be governor.

His successor, Bev Perdue, is dealing with a deepening budget crisis and plunging popularity.

She should use Easley's troubles to strengthen her own image by casting herself as the anti-Easley governor.

Last week, Public Policy Polling measured Perdue's approval rating at 34 percent. Among teachers, it was just 29 percent.

That was a huge drop from previous surveys and a mass desertion by a group that overwhelmingly backed her election last year. My household received dozens of pro-Perdue mailings from the N.C. Association of Educators. Now teachers feel she's betrayed them by imposing a small pay cut to help close a tiny portion of the state's $3 billion deficit.

The anger was demonstrated in Raleigh last weekend during an NCAE-organized protest. Dave Owens, a maintenance supervisor for Guilford County Schools, told the N&R's Lorraine Ahearn:

"When you start taking money back that you've already budgeted, after all the confidence Bev Perdue said she had in teachers, that's devastating. It shouldn't be our responsibility to balance her budget."

To explain things to Mr. Owens: It doesn't matter what was budgeted. When the economy tanks, tax revenues drop. That means the funds simply aren't there to meet budgeted expenditures. "Taking money back" is unavoidable. As governor, Perdue is required by the state constitution to balance the budget. She is empowered only to cut spending, not to raise taxes.

This is what separates governors from the president, by the way. Barack Obama's approval ratings remain relatively high because he can ramp up federal spending to record levels with record borrowing. Politicians who give away money are better-liked than those who take it away -- at least until the weight of accumulated deficits crushes the country. But that's going to take a few years.

Democratic consultant Gary Pearce wrote in his Talking About Politics blog last week that Perdue "seems to have neither personal popularity nor popular policies."

What she lacks is simple, Pearce added: "a powerful, positive message. Something the voters believe she stands for no matter what happens, something they see her fighting for that is good for the state."

I agree. She should stand for honest government. She should fight against corrupt politics, even within her own Democratic Party.

The Easley scandals give her the perfect opportunity.

Although she served as lieutenant governor during Easley's entire eight-year tenure as governor, Perdue wasn't politically close to him. Rather, she considered his predecessor, Jim Hunt, her mentor. During her gubernatorial campaign last year, she tried to keep her distance from Easley as it became increasingly clear he'd mismanaged some big issues like mental health and probation.

Another Easley failing was ethical leadership. His administration tended to be secretive, and he seemed unconcerned about corruption by former Speaker Jim Black and others. Maybe now we know why.

Perdue already has been much more open and visible than Easley, but she needs to draw a sharper contrast.

She should denounce Easley for, at the very least, giving the appearance that he used his office to gain favors for himself and his family.

Furthermore, she should pledge that her administration will adhere to the highest standards and promise to call out anyone in state government who does not.

The governor's direct authority is limited. She doesn't rule the independently elected members of the Council of State, the General Assembly or the judiciary. But she has the state's highest bully pulpit, and she should make it known that the governor will loudly demand accountability for dishonesty anywhere in state government.

She should urge state employees to call her office, without risk, if they see or suspect corruption. She should promise to have all credible leads investigated.

Perdue can't mend the economy. She can't balance the budget without drawing some blood.

She can resolve to make state government function better by assuring that it operates honestly and openly.

If she does, it will be good for North Carolina and she'll earn the public's support.

An anti-Easley is just the kind of governor needed right now.

Contact Doug Clark at 373-7039 or dgclark@news-record.com