North Carolina’s two front-runners for governor — incumbent Pat McCrory and Attorney General Roy Cooper — this week reported similar fundraising totals.

In the second half of 2015, Cooper raised $2.9 million to McCrory’s $2.6 million, according to news releases from both campaigns. Cooper also has more cash on hand than McCrory. A news release this week said Cooper’s political war chest totaled $4.9 million to McCrory’s $4.1 million.

By a larger margin, Cooper’s campaign also raised more money than McCrory in the first half of 2015 — $2.2 million to $1.3 million.

North Carolina’s gubernatorial race is expected to be one of the most competitive in the nation, and Cooper’s campaign is confident the attorney general can win.

“Today’s numbers reaffirm what public polling already shows: Pat McCrory is the most vulnerable incumbent governor in the country,” said Cooper campaign spokesman Jamal Little. “North Carolinians all across the state are ready for a change in leadership and are fired up about Roy Cooper.”

In a news release, McCrory put a positive spin on his fundraising numbers, saying half of all donors during the last six months of 2015 were new contributors.

“Governor McCrory is the No. 1 target of the Washington, D.C., Democratic establishment, radical special interest groups, trial lawyers and out-of-state labor unions in 2016,” said Russell Peck, campaign manager for The Pat McCrory Committee. “While the other side has shown they will say, do and spend whatever it takes to try and take down the governor, our growing network of supporters will ensure that we’ll have the resources to win in November and continue to rebuild North Carolina.”

Edds won’t ask for travel reimbursement

Greg Edds, the County Commissioners chairman, traveled to Richmond, Va. for oral arguments in Rowan’s prayer case, but says he won’t request reimbursement for travel costs.

A three-judge, federal appeals court panel on Wednesday heard oral arguments. Edds, who attended the hearing with his wife Kim, said he paid his own expenses for the trip and would not ask Rowan for any reimbursements. He was the only elected official to attend.

Rowan County has a policy for travel and hotel reimbursements, but it doesn’t state a specific maximum cost for lodging. The policy states employees or elected officials “traveling on official county business is expected to exercise the same care in incurring expenses that a prudent person would exercise if traveling on personal business and expending personal funds.” Rowan County’s manager must approve hotels for trips that are less than 60 miles.

Meals are paid based on per diem rates. Breakfasts are reimbursed at $7 per meal. Employees and county officials get $9 for lunch. Dinner’s per diem rate is $20 per meal.

Curran will speak to Tea Party in Feburary

Pattie Curran, a Republican candidate for the state’s 5th Congressional District, will speak to the Rowan County Tea Party on Feb. 9.

Curran, a Kernersville resident, will speak at 7 p.m. on Feb. 9 at Blue Bay Seafood Restaurant on Statesville Boulevard. An informal dinner hour starts at 6 p.m.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-5, visited the Rowan County Tea Party’s meeting earlier this month.

Curran and Foxx will face off in the March 15 Republican primary.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.