New poll numbers for those who hope to replace Gov. Perdue

Just days after Governor Perdue announced she would not seek a second term, we’re getting our first look at how other Democratic candidates might fare.

Public Policy Polling tested 13 different potential Democratic opponents in a race against Republican Pat McCrory, who will formally enter the gubernatorial contest Tuesday. Here’s what would-be voters told PPP:

By far the strongest Democratic candidate would be Erskine Bowles, who trails McCrory only 44-42 in a hypothetical contest. Bowles notably trails McCrory by only 19 points with whites, a group that Perdue lost by 25 points with in 2008. The only other Democrat to come within single digits of McCrory, and someone who hasn’t really received much
discussion as a potential candidate, is Senator Kay Hagan. She trails by 7 points at 48-41.

The other Democrats all trail by 10 points or more. From ones who trail McCrory by the least to the ones who trail McCrory by the most they are: former State Treasurer Richard Moore who trails by 11 at 47-36, Congressman Brad Miller who trails by 14 at 49-35, Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton and former Congressman Bob Etheridge who each
trail by 15 at 50-35, Congressman Heath Shuler who trails by 17 at 48-31, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx and State Senator Dan Blue who each trail by 18 at 50-32 and 49-31 respectively, State Representative Bill Faison who trails by 19 at 50-31, and Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines, former Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker, and Congressman
Mike McIntyre who each trail by 20 at 50-30, 49-29, and 50-30 respectively.

While those numbers may be somewhat discouraging for some Democratic candidates who were eying the Governor’s mansion, PPP notes that in a generic ballot test North Carolina’s governor’s race is essentially a tie. Forty-six (46) percent of voters in the state say they are generally leaning toward voting for a Democratic candidate, while 45% say they will vote Republican.

You can see the full breakdown of the weekend polling here.