By GARY D. ROBERTSON, Associated Press

GREENVILLE, N.C. Bill Faison played the maverick's role last fall by scrutinizing what he called fellow Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue's inactivity about high unemployment and spending cuts by the Republican-led Legislature and by promoting his own jobs plan.

The Orange County state House member traveled like a statewide candidate, speaking to Democratic groups and their allies. While the medical malpractice attorney said he wouldn't run for governor unless Perdue stepped aside, he also predicted publicly she would quit the race.

Faison's forecast came true Jan. 26 when Perdue announced she wouldn't seek re-election. He got in the race two days later. He said people are hyping his ability to push Perdue out.

"No one would be able to force someone out of a race like a sitting governor," Faison said in an interview, adding that going around the state to talk about putting people back to work "is something that ought to be above reproach."

The 65-year-old Faison is now keeping to the same format he used as a quasi-candidate, hoping personal interaction with voters will reap electoral rewards. He was willing to spend two hours in Greenville at the end of a long day of campaigning to meet a combined 25 Democrats.

As one of six hopefuls for the Democratic nomination, Faison now has new predictions: That his performance in April televised debates will separate him from his leading rivals, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton and former U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge; and that the electorate will gravitate toward him in the May 8 primary and in November against the presumptive Republican nominee.

"With your help, I'll go beat Pat McCrory this fall," Faison told 10 people at the organizational meeting of the Pitt County Young Democrats at a downtown Greenville bistro. "I don't think it'll be a huge beating, but I'll beat him."

Faison doesn't lack confidence or personal wealth. His campaign had more than $500,000 as of Dec. 31, almost all of it in the form of his personal loans. He's already run a commercial on television. More personal funds likely are needed if he wants to make a TV ad splash in the primary campaign's final weeks.

Faison is keeping the jobs plan he's promoted since September the anchor of his gubernatorial campaign.

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Faison predicting success with NC gov's run