Which one of the candidates for governor strikes you as being more likely to be in the office on the weekend, sweating over how to get more people to work in North Carolina?

Claim: “The One N.C. Fund has created 60,000 jobs and produced $11 billion worth of investments since its inception.”

Speaker: Walter Dalton at Democratic gubernatorial debate Monday

The Democratic candidates for Governor will have three hour-long debates this week, each airing live on local television stations.

Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton has launched his bid to replace Gov. Bev Perdue, who earlier today said she will not run for re-election.

He announced his intentions in this prepared statement to the media:

“I believe that our future economy and better jobs depend on our historic commitment to education. After all, education is in North Carolina’s DNA – it's what sets us apart and it's what will determine our future. However, you can’t make progress if you are pointed in the wrong direction. Pat McCrory and the Republican leadership are facing the wrong way by cutting teachers, reducing scholarships and abandoning economic development. They are doing lasting damage to our state. I’ve dedicated my career to improving education at all levels and making North Carolina a great place to do business.

“Today, I'm announcing that I am running for Governor. Lucille and I love this state and we understand tough political races. I am the only candidate who has run and won statewide and I look forward to waging an aggressive campaign. Elections are about choices. As a state we must decide the direction in which we will turn. With this campaign, I choose to look ahead to a brighter future.  I choose progress.  I choose a future where public education is the foundation of our economy.”

The Wake County school board races were the centerpiece today of a Wake Democratic Party campaign kickoff event.

All five party-backed candidates were on hand for today's press conference/campaign rally marking the start of Early Voting. Former Wake County school board member Susan Parry set the tone as the emcee for the event held on the steps of the Wake County Democratic Party's offices

"We have a great deal to lose this time and a lot to gain," Parry said of the school board races.

Gov. Bev Perdue and several other Democratic Party leaders are scheduled to attend a Thursday fundraiser in Raleigh for a group that's hoping to wrest control of the Wake County school board away from the Republican majority.

The stated goal of the fundraiser for the Wake Citizens for Good Government PAC is to benefit Wake school board candidates "who support high quality public schools for all children." The PAC was formed in 2009 and unsuccessfully ran a television attack ad against Republican-backed school board candidates.

The PAC was formed by Dean Debnam, president of the Democratic-leaning polling firm of Public Policy Polling. PPP has recently conducted surveys on Wake school issues for what the firm says is a private client.