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Gary Pearce offers ideas at his Talking About Politics blog about why Gov. Bev Perdue's poll numbers are dropping like a rock.

Cutting pay for her key constituencies, teachers and state employees, is a big reason.

But, come on, everyone's income is falling. Most people understand that Perdue has to ax the state's budget.

Pearce adds:

"Perdue seems to have neither personal popularity nor popular policies.

"Again, what Perdue lacks is simple: a powerful positive message. Something the voters believe she stands for no matter what happens, something they see her as fighting for that is good for the state."

My view: Given that Perdue can't plunge the state into massive debt while bailing out industries and buying favor with special-interest groups like the bunch in Washington, she needs another way to win over the public.

I think her predecessor, Mike Easley, has handed her an opportunity.

As it becomes increasingly clear that Easley used his office for personal benefit, Perdue should lead the way in calling for accountability and clean government.

She's already ushered in more openness. She even ordered the release of Easley's travel documents that he'd kept secret. But that's not enough.

She should decry the culture of corruption that has pervaded state government in recent years and led to convictions of Meg Scott Phipps, Jim Black, Michael Decker, Frank Ballance and Kevin Geddings. Now some of Easley's activities are under investigation and there's fallout at N.C. State over the plum job created for Mary Easley.

Perdue should speak out about how disgusted and embarrassed she is by all this and vow to get tough on all the pay-to-play shenanigans and favoritism that have been taken for granted in Raleigh for too long. She should promise to step on the toes of fellow Democrats, admitting the ruling party has not always wielded its political power for the good of the state. She should warn she'll call out every politcian she sees acting in an unethical manner, no matter what the political consequences.

Good government requires clean government. It requires integrity in elected officials.

If Perdue builds her image as a governor who stands for honest government, who fights for it -- and if she gets results -- her poll numbers will improve.

She can't make the economy better, but she can make government better.

North Carolina needs an anti-Easley governor. That's the formula for Bev Perdue.