news-record.com

Here are what some others are saying today about Gov. Bev Perdue's announcement that she will not seek re-election in November.

Politico.com: "Saddled with low poll ratings, Perdue, a Democrat, was the most endangered incumbent governor of the cycle and faced grim prospects in the fall against Republican Pat McCrory."

News & Observer's Under the Dome blog:  "Her departure sets up a scramble at the top of the Democratic ticket."

The Charlotte Observer's O-pinion blog:  "No incumbent N.C. governor has ever declined to seek a second term since the constitution was changed in 1977 to allow that."

ABC News blog: "That decision should improve President Obama’s chances in the state next November, as Perdue is deeply unpopular, and that unpopularity could have hurt the president — and Democrats in general – in North Carolina in 2012."

CNN's Political Ticker blog: "The first-term governor was elected in 2008 with a three-point advantage over her Republican opponent."

IndyWeek.com: "Standing here listening to WRAL go through the list, they missed Erskine Bowles — he's rich and raising money is going to be a problem for anyone who has to start today from square one. And Bowles is only a two-time loser in NC, maybe the third time's the charm."

The New York Times and its blog The Caucus: “ 'She wasn’t polling great and had some ethics issues,' the Democratic source said. 'We’re viewing it as a very positive thing for us, and we have a really good quality pool of candidates.' ”

The Washington Post: "A poll conducted for Perdue’s campaign just before Christmas showed her trailing McCrory by six points, though her approval rating had risen to 45 percent. The Fix has consistently ranked North Carolina as the GOP’s best chance to win a Democratic-held governorship this cycle."