McCrory must share key endorsement

January 18, 2008
DAVID INGRAM
dingram@charlotteobserver.com

RALEIGH --
Former Gov. Jim Martin is endorsing in the Republican primary for N.C. governor. But he's not endorsing just Pat McCrory.

Martin, a Republican who served as governor from 1985 to 1993, said Friday that he is endorsing both McCrory, Charlotte's seven-term mayor, and former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr, whom Martin appointed to a judgeship in 1986.

"They're both long-term friends," Martin told the Observer.

He acknowledged the unusual situation of endorsing two candidates in the four-person contest, but he said he had no choice. He encouraged McCrory to run a couple years ago and then, when McCrory didn't appear interested, Martin gave $1,000 to Orr's campaign in May 2007. McCrory entered the race Tuesday.

"It's not too common," said Martin, who once chaired the Mecklenburg commissioners and is now an executive with Carolinas Medical Center. "Everybody's entitled to be for something."

At McCrory's campaign kick-off Tuesday, former Gov. Jim Holshouser endorsed McCrory and implied that Martin was endorsing McCrory, too. In an interview later, McCrory confirmed the two endorsements without mentioning Orr.

Orr said Friday that he is delighted to have Martin's support. He said he did not think it was appropriate to tout the endorsement in May, when Martin contributed to Orr's campaign, because he knew Martin might assist someone else.

"I'm still not sure why the McCrory campaign left the impression that they were the sole endorsement," Orr said.

McCrory said Friday that the omission was unintentional.

"I was doing 30-some interviews in five-minute increments," he said. "We have not put that (Martin's endorsement) in any written material, but we are very proud to have two governors make two very strong statements."

Martin said Orr had a key role in his 1984 election as governor, when Orr, who had a law practice in Asheville, drove Martin around western North Carolina. Martin and McCrory know each other through civic work in Charlotte.

Martin said he intends to donate to McCrory's campaign, but that otherwise he has no plans to campaign in person for either McCrory or Orr. He added that he also likes the two other Republicans running -- Bill Graham, a lawyer and activist, and Fred Smith, a state senator and real estate developer -- and would endorse whoever wins the GOP nomination.

Candidates often strive to win endorsements from high-profile figures such as Martin, one of only two Republican governors in North Carolina in the last century. But even he doubted whether voters pay attention to such things.

"Who knows how much help endorsements are?" Martin said.

Holshouser, the other recent Republican governor, did not return a call requesting comment Friday.