GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) -- Pat McCrory vows that North Carolina voters "won't be fooled again" in rejecting a Republican governor like they did four years ago.

McCrory formally began his second campaign for governor Tuesday evening with several hundred supporters in Guilford County, where he spent much of his childhood.

The former Charlotte mayor narrowly lost to Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue in 2008. He told the energized crowd it was time to fix the state's broken government and broken economy.

It appeared for the past year McCrory and Perdue were headed for a rematch, but Perdue announced last week she wouldn't seek re-election. Two Democrats have already jumped into their party's race, and more are possible. McCrory called these candidates "retreads" who want to prop up Democratic control of the executive branch.

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Republican Pat McCrory is ready to unfurl his bid for North Carolina governor, even though he doesn't know for sure whom his Democratic opponent will be.

The former Charlotte mayor and 2008 runner-up for governor formally kicks off his campaign Tuesday with an event in Guilford County, where he spent much of his childhood.

It appeared for the past year McCrory and Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue were headed for a rematch in 2012, but Perdue announced last week she wouldn't seek re-election. Two Democrats have already jumped into their party's race, and more are possible.

McCrory said Monday that Perdue's absence won't change his campaign and strategy. He said the Democrats interested in running all have helped enable a dozen years of poor policies.

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