Perdue, Easley attend Obama meeting

[ccharles000]

(this is from Dec.2)


North Carolina's two governors attended an economic meeting with President-elect Barack Obama today.

Gov. Mike Easley and Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue both attended a closed-door session at Independence Hall in Philadelphia with the president-elect, Vice President-elect Joe Biden and other governors.

Both had a moment in the spotlight, according to Perdue. She was recognized as one of three newly elected governors, while Easley was called on to give a three-minute speech about North Carolina's year-old program to reduce home foreclosures.

Perdue said she feels confident that Obama understands North Carolina's plight, given the number of times he visited the state during the contentious primary and general elections.

"I believe we have a relationship with the country's president and vice president, and many of their staffers that we worked with during the campaign," she said. "At the very least we'll get our calls answered."

Despite traveling separately — Perdue on a campaign-funded plane, Easley on a state jet — the two sat next two each other at the meeting. The governors were seated in the order that their states entered the union, placing North Carolina between Tennessee and Virginia.

After the summit, Perdue, who has an undergraduate degree in history, said she took some time to see the Liberty Bell nearby.

"It was nice to finally see it," she said.

http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/perdue_easley_attend_obama_meeting