Beverly Perdue's chief rival in May's Democratic primary for governor is finally offering her his endorsement.

State Treasurer Richard Moore is sending an e-mail to supporters Wednesday urging them to support the lieutenant governor in her bid to win the state's top job in the November election.

Perdue received 56 percent of the vote to beat Moore in the primary, a hard-fought and often acrimonious race between two veteran Democratic leaders.

In the e-mail, Moore acknowledged that he has differences with Perdue. But he said the differences pale in comparison to the differences they both have with the Republican nominee, Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory.

Moore says a "unified Democratic Party" needs to elect Perdue as the next governor, saying she'll stand up for working families.