Pat McCrory, a Republican who is believed to be leading the state gubernatorial race, accused Gov. Bev Perdue of having an office riddled with corruption during a March 17 address in Asheville.

His spoke to more than 250 people who packed a banquet room at the Buncombe County Republican party’s Lincoln-Reagan Dinner at the Crowne Plaza.

McCrory also said any Democrats running for Perdue’s office will be aiming to protect the “good-ol’-boy” status quo in Raleigh. (Perdue recently announced that she will not seek re-election.)

In addition, McCrory advocated reducing taxes to draw new businesses, pointing to South Carolina’s success with the strategy.

He also charged that the Democrats’ failed policies have left North Carolina with a 10 percent jobless rate, which, McCrory noted, is higher than the national average

Next, U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-Cherryville, was allowed a speaking opportunity because he is the only incumbent congressman representing Buncombe County.

McHenry quipped that, with the addition of Asheville in his district, he has quadrupled the number of vegetarian restaurants in his district.

He also took a verbal jab at President Barack Obama, alleging that Obamacare is bad for the country and that he has done little to help boost the economy.

“Even the folks in the drum circle (in Asheville’s) downtown are worse off now than before he was president,” McHenry asserted, triggering laughter from the crowd.

The BCGOP needs to shift Buncombe “back where it needs to be — back in Republican hands,” he said.

Keynote speaker Cherie Berry ripped Perdue on a number of fronts, especially for flipflopping on fracking, a process using water and chemicals to extract natural gas.