NC Gubernatorial Forums 2008
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As another election season heats up, UNC-TV presents live presentations of the NC Gubernatorial Forums 2008 on UNC-NC, UNC-TV’s digital channel dedicated to North Carolina programming. Encore presentations of each forum air on UNC-TV.

During these topical forums, UNC-TV journalists moderate in-depth discussions between participating Democratic Party candidates Beverly Perdue and Richard Moore and Republican Party contenders Bill Graham, Pat McCrory, Bob Orr and Fred Smith.

UNC-TV's NC Gubernatorial Forums include:

NC Gubernatorial Forum 2008: The Economy

NC Gubernatorial Forum 2008: Healthcare

NC Gubernatorial Forum 2008: Education

Click here for more information about UNC-TV's Election 2008 programming.

The following criteria determine candidate participation in the NC Gubernatorial Candidate Forums:

UNC-TV uses the following viewpoint-neutral criteria to determine candidate participation in the 2008 UNC-TV Gubernatorial Forums.  The burden rests with the candidate to make a showing of compliance with these criteria.

1. Constitutional Eligibility: the candidate, if elected, must be legally qualified to hold the office under federal and state law.
   
2. Eligibility to be on the Ballot: the candidate must have correctly and properly filed all documents required by the State Board of Elections in compliance with state law. (NOTE: Inclusion of the candidate in any Forum occurring before the filing deadline shall not require certification by the State Board of Elections, but shall require that all other criteria herein be met.)  Write-in candidates, under normal circumstances, are not considered eligible.
   
3. Evidence of a Campaign: the candidate has made a public announcement of an intention to run; the candidate has a legally registered committee and has filed appropriate financial reports. The candidate and supporters should be campaigning throughout the state. Evidence includes, but is not limited to, statewide distribution of signatures on nominating petitions, statewide distribution of volunteers and contributors, presence of a headquarters, campaign staff, issuance of position papers, and statewide campaign appearances.
   
4. "Significant" Candidacy: the candidate must demonstrate significant voter interest and support.   The following are among the factors that are considered in determining if the candidate has demonstrated “significance."

   a. Results of major, reliable, nonpartisan, independent statewide, public opinion poll that shows a minimum level of support of five percent (5%) at the time of selection. Possible polling sources include professional pollsters, independent newspapers, broadcasters and universities.
   
   b. Candidate is in a contested primary election to represent a political party that gathered significant (2% or more) voter support in the previous election.
   
   c. Coverage by statewide media as a recognized candidate with statewide support.

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