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GREENSBORO — Organizers billed the debate among Republican candidates for governor Friday as a steel-cage match, an opportunity to define their differences.

As it turned out, the tone was less steel and more magnolia. State Sen. Fred Smith, former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr, Salisbury lawyer Bill Graham and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory directed most of their ire at Democrats rather than each other.

The debate at the Koury Center was sponsored by the John William Pope Civitas Institute, a conservative think tank. The format allowed candidates to challenge one another and was much more free-flowing than some forums.

Moderators gave candidates the clearest opening for fireworks on a question about television ads that Smith is running, criticizing McCrory for cost overruns in Charlotte city projects.

When asked if he thought similar criticism of cost overruns while he was a county commissioner or state senator would be fair, Smith said it wouldn't bother him.

"Anything I've done in the public sector is fair game for anybody. Bring it on," he said, adding, "We've hit each other on our records. That's what we're supposed to do."

But, Smith said, all the candidates would unite behind the eventual nominee.

"Can you add that to the end of your commercial?" McCrory asked.

Orr took the occasion to get a subtle dig in at McCrory, who has been an advocate for a light rail system in Charlotte that is unpopular with more conservative Republicans.

"Fred should get credit for not trying to bring light rail to Johnston County," Orr said, getting appreciative chuckles from the overwhelmingly conservative crowd.

Graham said that all four Republicans would agree that the current state government is "lousy," and that Democrats aren't doing a good job.

All four candidates responded that they would do more to combat illegal immigration.

However, criticism of McCrory's efforts to combat illegal immigration in Charlotte, which Smith and Orr have leveled in the past two weeks, did not come up.

The sharpest difference on the topic came up with Smith saying the state needed to be judicious in how it used and paid for a program that deputizes sheriff's departments to enforce immigration laws. Graham said he would deputize all law enforcement officers to do so and would want them to more actively enforce immigration laws than the federal 287(g) program currently allows.

Meanwhile, McCrory said the state needs to persuade the federal government to build immigration courts and detention centers in the state, but Orr said taxpayers should be wary of those costs. Orr said the state should be doing more to recoup the costs of illegal immigration problems from the federal government.

Each candidate used parts of the debate to play up his strengths.

Orr has long been known for generating in-depth policy papers and for his somewhat academic style. He said substance would be needed to win against the eventual Democratic nominee.

"Slick sound bites, good looks, I don't think that's the answer," Orr said.

Graham reminded the audience that he led the "Stop the Gas Tax" campaign, which helped persuade lawmakers to put a cap on the tax that the state charges for motor fuels. He described himself as an outsider with a different approach to problems.

"I didn't call Raleigh. I called you," he told the crowd.

Smith emphasized his experience as a businessman, saying it would give him the insight to solve the state's economic problems.

"I'm the candidate who, in the private sector, has created hundreds of jobs," Smith said, adding that government should concentrate on building roads, providing for public safety and educating children.

Among other topics, McCrory emphasized his experience in local government as well as his longtime advocacy for stronger anti-gang laws and more funding for the criminal justice system.

"The state government has entirely failed to back up local police, local sheriffs and victims of crime," he said.

Contact Mark Binker at (919) 832-5549 or mark.binker@news-record.com