Though only two weeks before the election, state Rep. Charlotte Gardner, R-Rowan, held a fund-raiser Monday night for a final push before Nov. 7.

The event raised roughly $25,000 and attracted about 100 people, Gardner reported. The crowd included many members of the medical and business communities and legislative colleagues, such as Reps. Julia Howard, R-Davie, Theresa Esposito, R-Forsyth, and Eugene McCombs, R-Rowan.

“I feel good about the turnout and support I’ve had,” Gardner said Tuesday.

Gardner, an eight-term incumbent trying to preserve her House District 35 seat against Democrat Lorene Coates’ challenge, held three fund-raisers before the short session.

When spending reports filed in July showed Coates keeping pace with Gardner in contributions, Gardner made plans for the late fund-raiser, held at the home of Dr. and Mrs. William T. Mason in Salisbury.

Gardner said she has needed the extra effort in response to Democratic House Speaker Jim Black’s targeting of her seat and the anti-Gardner mailings she expects the N.C. Democratic Party to send out on Coates’ behalf.

Gardner has increased her own budget for direct mail and plans to have a second newspaper insert touting her candidacy. The N.C. Republican Party has recently offered her support, she added.

“When I planned the campaign, I planned it on my own,” Gardner said. “I didn’t know what to expect from them.”

Still, no excuses: No-excuse voting continues in North Carolina until 5 p.m. Nov. 3.

This form of absentee voting, which allows any registered North Carolinian to vote before the Nov. 7 general election without having an excuse, is available at the Rowan County Board of Elections between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday until the deadline.

As of Tuesday, 1,205 Rowan Countians had voted this method.

Life after government: Lt. Gov. Dennis Wicker, who lost his gubernatorial bid in the Democratic Primary, will join the law firm of Smith, Helms, Mulliss & Moore in Raleigh in January 2001.

His chief of staff and general counsel, Mack A. Paul, will join him at the law firm. Paul is on leave of absence from Wicker’s office while serving as manager of the North Carolina campaign for Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore.

Wicker says he will create and lead a “government relations practice” at Smith Helms. Wicker has been lieutenant governor since 1992.

Black Caucus endorsements: The N.C. Black Leadership Caucus has endorsed Democratic candidates in all the N.C. congressional races and all the statewide races, including governor, lieutenant governor, Council of State and judicial.

“We believe supporting Democrats in this election is in the best interests of the African-American community,” said Robert “Bob” Davis Jr., chairman of the caucus. “What distinguishes the Democratic candidates is their past record, their political astuteness and their caring for all people.”

Three kings: Three Republican governors are “barnstorming” North Carolina today on behalf of the Bush-Cheney ticket for president and vice president.

Govs. Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho, Frank Keating of Oklahoma and Gary Johnson of New Mexico visited Asheville and Charlotte as part of a “Barnstorm for Reform Tour.” Altogether, 29 Republican governors, traveling in seven teams, are hitting 48 cities in 25 states, which have 318 combined electoral votes.

President Clinton won 23 of the 25 states in 1996.

Another barnstorm: Democratic candidates for statewide offices will be traveling by bus across North Carolina Nov. 4, with a stop in Salisbury at 3 p.m., according to local Democrats. The bus stop has yet to be determined.