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I'm committed as governor to valuing and nurturing our relationships with our friends to the south.

I'm the most pro-liberty elected official statewide in my lifetime. It isn't even a close call, so for people who care about protecting liberty, there's never been - again, in my lifetime in Virginia - a statewide elected official who's been as aggressive and consistent about doing that as I have.

Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me to live through the open racism of the time.

I'd never get elected if people in North Carolina realized how liberal I am.

I was on the campaign trail for 18 months. I never got a question about the District of Columbia in South Carolina.

I do think there is something to be said for those who have significant experience at state level and have run campaigns or have been deeply involved in grass roots political campaigns and who have actual hands-on experience.

I was born and raised in the South, which is pretty conservative.

I am humble Abraham Lincoln. I have been solicited by my friends to become a candidate for the Legislature. My politics are short and sweet, like the old woman's dance.

This is an area where North Carolina does excel. I have known more colorful North Carolina political figures than I have colorless ones.

From the political angle, I'm trying to be apolitical if you will. I mean people say, 'Are you a red state or blue state?', I say, 'I'm purple.' I think there are great ideas on both sides of the aisle and neither side has cornered the market.