Governor Perdue Puts Peaches and NASCAR Where His Mouth is, Figuratively

Perdue Bets North Carolina's Governor that
Georgia's Diana DeGarmo will be the next American Idol

ATLANTA , GA - Following his proclamation of "Dial for Diana DeGarmo Day" in Georgia, Governor Perdue was trying to drum up some action with Mike Easley from North Carolina, the Governor from the other American Idol finalist's home state. At risk for Governor Perdue is a bushel of peaches and two VIP tickets to the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 NASCAR race. At risk for Governor Easley is 16 pints of blueberries and two VIP tickets to the UAW-GM Quality 500 NASCAR race.

Perdue explained, "It accomplished two things really. First, it's helping me deal with the butterflies in my stomach. I've been having trouble sleeping since Diana got into the finals last Thursday. Second, I really like blueberries and NASCAR. It's a win-win situation. As for having to give away some of our state's delicious peaches, I don't plan on losing."

Staff members for the Governor are forced to do nothing but watch as this brinkmanship escalates, and a few are seeking medical attention for Perdue's index finger, or as he has taken to calling it the past few weeks, his "dialer."