Patrick Lloyd "Pat" McCrory (born October 17, 1956) is an American politician and businessman. He was the 53rd Mayor of Charlotte from 1995 to 2009, and is the Republican nominee for Governor of North Carolina in 2012

Mayor McCrory gained the city of Charlotte national prominence during his tenure as mayor. By the 1990's Charlotte emerged as a symbol of the New South by becoming a hub of transportation, banking, manufacturing, energy and tourism. McCrory implemented transportation and land use plans that have been seen nationally as templates for other municipalities. He received a presidential appointment to serve on the United States Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) from 2003-2006.

McCrory was the Republican nominee for governor of North Carolina in the 2008 general election and was narrowly defeated by then-Lieutenant Governor Beverly Perdue.

After the 2008 election, McCrory returned to the private sector, becoming a national advocate for the economic benefits of mass transit. Additionally, McCrory was a co-host for WCNC-TV FlashPoint, a Charlotte-based Sunday morning talk show, and is a frequent guest host for News Talk 1110 WBT (AM) radio. On January 31 McCrory launched his 2012 campaign for governor. McCrory continues to give speeches and raise campaign funds on behalf of the North Carolina Republican Party.

John Ellis "Jeb" Bush (born February 11, 1953) is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W. Bush; and the older brother of Neil Bush, Marvin Bush, and Dorothy Bush Koch.

Jeb Bush was born in Midland, Texas. When he was six years old, the family relocated to Houston, Texas.

Following in the footsteps of older brother, George, Jeb Bush attended high school at the private Massachusetts boarding school, Phillips Academy Andover. At the age of 17, he taught English as a second language in León, Guanajuato, Mexico, as part of Phillips Academy's student exchange program. While in Mexico, he met wife, Columba Garnica Gallo.

In 1973, Bush graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Texas at Austin with a BA in Latin American Studies. He completed his coursework in two and a half years with generally excellent grades. After considering a career in Hollywood, he instead chose to pursue politics.