news-record.com

WINSTON-SALEM —  Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines is open to the possibility of becoming a Democratic candidate for governor of North Carolina, he said this morning after reports surfaced that Gov. Bev Perdue will not seek re-election.

"The game change is there," Joines said. "I'd say it's too soon to rule anything out."

News that Perdue, a Democrat, would not seek reelection was first reported on the Washington Post's website this morning. A Democratic official told the Associated Press that Perdue, the first woman elected governor in North Carolina history, was facing a hard fight for a second term, which could include a possible rematch against former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory.

Perdue narrowly defeated McCrory in 2008 in North Carolina's closest gubernatorial contest since 1972, thanks partly to President Barack Obama's draw at the polls.

The Democratic official spoke on condition of anonymity because Perdue was expected to make a formal announcement later Thursday, the Associated Press reported.

Joines said he has had "a number of calls and e-mails" suggesting he run for governor.

"For the moment, I am just waiting to see what happens here," he said. "I love being mayor; I think we're making some good progress here."

Joines said he was surprised by reports that Perdue would not run for a second term because her campaign staff had contacted him recently about planning a fundraiser for Perdue in Winston-Salem this spring.