From left: Pat Smathers, Hampton Dellinger and Dan Besse.

Winston-Salem city councilman Dan Besse, Durham attorney Hampton Dellinger and Canton Mayor Pat Smathers participated in a forum Thursday night in Winston-Salem.

The candidates said they support a death penalty moratorium and agree that same-sex couples should be permitted to enter civil unions. They said reducing the school dropout rate also a priority.

Besse and Smathers questioned Dellinger's background, saying the former aide to Governor Mike Easley has never held an elected office. Besse and Dellinger also clashed over fundraising practices.

State Senator Walter Dalton, another Democratic candidate, didn't attend the debate.

Current Lieutenant Governor Beverly Perdue is running for governor.