Polling places across North Carolina have been jammed the state gets an early jump on the 2012 general election. Jonathan Kappler, research director at the North Carolina Free Enterprise Foundation, joins host Donna Martinez to analyze the mid-week numbers and look deep into Buncombe County’s turnout. The western North Carolina county is considered a national bellwether, having voted for the winning presidential candidate in the last six elections. Kappler also discusses highlights from the third quarter campaign finance reports of congressional candidates. He also looks into the bank accounts of the two major candidates for governor. Then we turn to the week’s final debate between Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory and his Democratic challenger, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton. The candidates discuss education funding and immigration. Although Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Barbara Howe was not included in the final debate, she joined People in Politics to provide her view of education and immigration in an interview with Martinez. That’s followed by a look at the scandal that has erupted around Republican state auditor candidate Debra Goldman, who is seeking to oust Democratic incumbent Beth Wood. Rick Martinez of NCN News, SGRToday.com, and NewsRadio 680 WPTF in Raleigh explains the controversy over Goldman’s accusations of burglary against a fellow Wake County school board member who was subsequently cleared by police. Martinez explains how Pat McCrory responded to a debate question about whether he supports Goldman for the auditing job. Martinez also talks about the untimely death of state Sen. Don East, who passed away following back surgery. Then we hear former Gov. Jim Hunt explain how the late William Friday kept tabs on the governor’s actions, and Donald Mann tells NCN News’ Josh Zach about why candidates use negative advertising. Then we hear closing statements from President Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney at their final presidential debate, as well as lighthearted comments each candidate recently made to the Alfred Smith Memorial Foundation fundraising dinner in New York City.