Perdue meets with Obama in Washington

Perdue's office said she and other governors planned to meet with the president in Washington, D.C. Obama was scheduled to attend a fundraiser for the Democratic Governors Association.

Perdue spokesman David Kochman said the governor will fly to Washington after wrapping up two days in New York, where she and Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco, Revenue Secretary Ken Lay and University of North Carolina President Erskine Bowles urged companies to set up shop or expand existing operations in North Carolina.

The visit included meetings with corporate leaders and consultants who help businesses choose sites for new projects.

Perdue has said she's interested in bringing green, military, and aviation jobs to North Carolina.

According to the state Department of Commerce, the recruiting trip to New York cost taxpayers less than $10,000. Some of the costs were picked up by economic development groups across the state, officials said.

Kochman said the governor hopes to talk to Obama in part about getting stimulus funds to replace the Yadkin River Bridge on Interstate 85.