Written by: Jessie Halpern, News Editor at NCSU’S The Technician
Photo Courtesy of Jessie Halpern, The Technician
North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue spoke during a five-minute slot at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, in which she highlighted President Barack Obama’s work for education and women’s rights.
“On behalf of the people of North Carolina, I welcome you all to the Queen City, Charlotte, in the great, great state of North Carolina,” Perdue said.
Perdue has spent her four years as governor making education her prime concern, a topic she did not stray from at the Democratic National Convention.
“My friends, it starts with education,” Perdue said. “The president has made schools a top priority, he actually understands that all parents want their children to have more opportunities than they did as a child…This president, my friends, simply ‘gets it’ on education, and that’s a good thing for America.”
Perdue said Obama sees the importance of education as a “difference maker” for children and “the pathway for this country to succeed as a global economy.”
Though Perdue began her speech with education, she ended with a nod to the president’s work for women’s rights.
“He has helped women across this country fight for equal pay [and] for equal work,” Perdue said. “He understands women must be guaranteed access to quality, affordable healthcare, and unlike Mitt Romney, President Obama is standing up for Planned Parenthood.”
Perdue’s statement was brief, but echoed a message of support for President Obama.
“Barack Obama is delivering for North Carolina and he is delivering for America,” Perdue said.
Following Gov. Perdue’s message was Ryan Case, a senior at the University of Colorado.
Case spoke about his experience watching both of his parents pass away from illness because they could not afford the healthcare he believes Obama has made affordable today.
At 28 years old, Case has just reached his senior year, as he has had to postpone school to work and care for his parents before their deaths. Though he’s a more mature senior, he is once again postponing school —this time, to campaign for Obama.
“I’m knocking on doors for President Obama,” Case said. “I’m two semesters away from graduating thanks to President Obama.”
Case brought attention to the Pell grants Obama has doubled during his term, the same grants Case is using to finish his undergraduate degree.
“President Obama believed in me, he fought for me. This fall, let’s fight for him,” Case said.
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