(RALEIGH) -- The latest survey from Public Policy Polling shows that the two announced candidates for the Democratic nomination for governor would not fare well against presumed GOP nominee Pat McCrory. In the hours and days following Gov. Perdue's announcement that she would not seek re-election, Lt  Gov. Walter Dalton and State Rep. Bill Faison announced they would seek the Democratic nomination.

"Dalton starts out trailing by 15 points at 50-35, Faison starts out trailing by 19 points at 50-31, so I think when other potential Democratic candidates see those numbers for Dalton and Faison it's clear that there's a lot of room for more candidates," said Tom Jensen of Public Polity Polling.

According to Jensen, their polling shows former UNC System President Erskine Bowles and Sen. Kay Hagan would have the best shot at beating McCrory in November. Hagan would have to abandon a Senate re-election bid in 2014 to run for governor. Jensen is not sure that would happen.