Etheridge in, Bowles out in NC governor's race

RALEIGH (Winston-Salem Journal) - Former U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge announced Thursday he'll enter the Democratic primary for North Carolina governor, hours after Erskine Bowles decided against it.

Etheridge's bid further shakes up the party's gubernatorial future just a week after incumbent Bev Perdue said she wouldn't seek re-election.

Etheridge, who served seven terms in Congress from Harnett County, previously was state schools superintendent, winning two statewide elections. He released a statement that improving the state's public education system has been his life's work. The schools are expected to be a big issue in the campaign as Republicans passed a state budget that Democrats have panned for reducing education spending by several hundred million dollars.