DURHAM Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton kicked off his drive for governor Tuesday, saying he is a "battle-tested" political veteran who is best suited to carry the Democratic message of jobs, the economy and education into the fall election against the Republicans.

Starting his campaign in a brick refurbished warehouse in the old tobacco district, Dalton said it was continuing public investments in education - which he said were threatened under Republican rule - that would continue to transform North Carolina's old manufacturing economy into an entrepreneurial, high tech economy.

"North Carolina is at a crossroads," Dalton told about 50 supporters. "Will we move forward, or will we move backward? The decisions we make in 2012 could either set us back or lay the groundwork for even a better future."

Meanwhile, state Rep. Bill Faison of Orange County announced that he would begin a statewide TV advertising buy - largely biographical - that would begin today. The initial ad buy was estimated at about $40,000 on cable TV channels.

A third announced candidate, former U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge of Lillington, has yet to file his candidacy. Etheridge, who reportedly has had fundraising difficult, was closeted Sunday with campaign advisers.

Meanwhile, the Democrats continued to wait to see what former state Treasurer Richard Moore of Raleigh - the only Democrat capable of putting significant personal sums into the race - might do. Moore said Tuesday that he was "still seriously considering" a guber natorial bid.

State Sen. Dan Blue of Raleigh has also said he is mulling the race, but it is not clear how seriously. Two long-time Blue allies, state Rep. Mickey Michaux and state Sen. Floyd McKissick Jr., both of Durham, showed up at Dalton's announcement, although Michaux said he was neutral in the primary.

Although Dalton quickly announced his candidacy the day Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue said she was not going to seek re-election, it was not until Tuesday that he filed and began a formal announcement tour in major media markets around the state. On Friday, he will appear with Vice President Joe Biden at a community college event in Thomasville.

Dalton, 62, an attorney, portrayed himself as battle-tested, having won election repeatedly to the state Senate in a swing district in the textile area of Cleveland and Rutherford counties, and as a proven political fundraiser in his various political races.

Dalton said North Carolina has a history as "a progressive state," citing the creation of the University of North Carolina, the Research Triangle Park, and the community college system. But he said that is being threatened by the Republican-led legislature and by GOP gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory.

"It is hard to look forward if you are pointed in the wrong direction," Daltons said. "Pat McCrory and the Republican leadership are taking us in the wrong direction."

He cited efforts by the Republican leadership to cut economic incentives to attract new industries, thousands of teaching and teaching assistant jobs, university faculty, driving up tuition, and financial aid to 6,000 students.

But if Dalton tried to tie himself to popular Democratic initiatives of the past, the Republicans tried to align him with an unpopular governor, calling him "the No. 2 man in Gov. Perdue's administration," although in North Carolina lieutenant governors are elected and serve independently of governors.