Typically, statewide races dominate the political scene every four years in North Carolina.

That is not the case this year, as voters of all affiliations are watching to see if our state will decide the long battle between Democratic Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

But there is a lot more at stake Tuesday than that one race. The Mike Easley era is ending this year, and that has produced a ripple effect in the Council of State races as well. There are important congressional and legislative primaries, as well as the races for county commission. Add to this the county transfer tax vote, and Tuesday should be an exciting time for state and local politics.

Governor

There are eight candidates in this race, but two frontrunners have emerged among both Republicans and Democrats.

On the GOP side, the battle is between Sen. Fred Smith, R-Johnston, an attorney from Clayton, N.C., and Mayor Pat McCrory of Charlotte. Other candidates include Bill Graham, a Salisbury attorney, former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Robert “Bob” Orr, and Elbie Powers, a Franklin, N.C., small businessman.

The Democratic frontrunners are Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and State Treasurer Richard Moore, who have been engaged in an increasingly bitter battle for first. Perdue had the early lead, but has seen it erode over the past six months. The third Dem in the race, Col. Dennis Nielsen, USAF (Ret.), could serve as a spoiler, forcing a head-to-head runoff between Perdue and Moore.

Lieutenant Governor

There are four Democrats and four Republicans in this race.

On the Democratic side, the poll leaders are Sen. Walter Dalton and Hampton Dellinger, an attorney who works in state government. Mayor Pat Smathers of Canton is also in the race, as is Dan Besse of Winston-Salem.

The Republican field is led by Sen. Robert Pittenger, R-Mecklenburg, whose most serious challenger is Greg Dority, the managing partner of a security firm in Washington, N.C. Attorney Jim Snyder and Timothy Cook, both also-rans from previous elections, are also in the race.

Council of State

Recent elections have seen Republicans make unprecedented gains in these races, with the GOP now holding the commissioner of Labor, auditor and commissioner of Agriculture positions.

There is only one Republican primary, while there are five Democratic contests.

On the GOP side, there are three candidates in the race for superintendent of Public Instruction: former Speaker of the N.C. House Richard Morgan, Joe Johnson of Tryon and Rockingham County farmer Eric Smith.

The Democratic race includes: