NC mayoral candidate drops out over racial slur

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — The Republican mayoral candidate in Winston-Salem, N.C., has dropped out after local party leaders withdrew their support when he admitted using a racial slur and derogatory term in describing a black county elections worker.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports that James Lee Knox issued a statement Tuesday saying the decision by county Republican leaders makes his mayoral bid impossible.

Knox, who is white, acknowledged using the racial slur after the 2012 election as he was trying to find out the name of a black elections employee with whom he had exchanged words during early voting. He said that while talking to another county worker, he referred to the woman using derogatory terms, including the n-word.

The withdrawal means the winner of the Democratic primary between incumbent Allen Joines and Gardenia Henley won’t face opposition in November.

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Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.