"We need to build roads better and faster," Ballantine told a crowd in Wilson during a recent swing through eastern counties, saying he doesn't want road money used for trains.

"Road money is for roads," he said.

Ballantine's position might appeal to fiscally conservative Republican voters. But it puts him at odds with Mecklenburg GOP leaders, who have been hitting up state lawmakers for 25 percent of the estimated $3 billion needed to build five routes over the next two decades.

Republican Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory said he's talked briefly with Ballantine about Charlotte's mass transit plan, but said he needs another shot.

"I need to be given the opportunity to help Pat learn more about (how) we're only supporting rail where it will work and that's the type of system he should support as governor," McCrory said.

Democratic Gov. Mike Easley has proposed and approved light-rail funding. If Ballantine is elected, he could squash future plans either with a veto stamp or by bogging down the projects in the state Department of Transportation.

Ballantine's opposition would not affect Charlotte and Raleigh's first routes -- the state has pledged to pay a share of both, using money that would ordinarily go to roads.

The state has already committed to paying 25 percent of the $398.7 million cost of the light-rail line that should start construction late this year from uptown south to Interstate 485. But over the next decade or so the Charlotte Area Transit System will keep asking the state for 25 percent of the cost to build four other lines: light rail to University City, commuter rail to Mooresville and either busways or light rail along Independence and Wilkinson boulevards.

Raleigh-area civic leaders are preparing to build a commuter rail line from downtown Raleigh and through Research Triangle Park to Durham. They have already received a commitment from the state for one-quarter of its $664 million cost.

McCrory is trying to build a bipartisan case for future projects. He lists the region's congressional delegation, including Republicans Sue Myrick, Robin Hayes and Elizabeth Dole and Democrat Mel Watt, as backers who have helped move transit along.

He and other leaders believe rail will spur urban redevelopment near the stations' rail stops and reduce traffic along the rail line.

"We have to keep this economic generator moving, and a diverse transportation system is crucial to that plan for the future for Charlotte," McCrory said.

Ballantine doesn't buy it.

"You have to have very high density for Americans to leave their cars behind," Ballantine noted, saying Charlotte doesn't have it.

The candidate said he would hear McCrory out, but it would be a tough sell.

Ballantine said he would cut off the state's Highway Fund and Highway Trust Fund as sources for future rail funding. Both are paid for with state gasoline taxes and go to roads, Highway Patrol funding and other projects.

The Republican nominee also said he's against using money from the state's general tax fund for rail unless he hears a more convincing argument. Lawmakers haven't found another source for the state portion to help pay for Charlotte's other four routes.

As the state's Senate Republican leader, Ballantine voted for a $700 million road building project last year that gave $70 million to public transit projects, but he said he backed an amendment that would have stripped out the train money.

Ballantine also voted against the major budget bills in the past three years that have provided the state's share of rail money. He said at the time it was because of the overall spending in the plans.

Some lawmakers of both parties have argued that using a portion of money for rail could slow down road projects. Supporters in both parties say they crafted rail plans so road delays wouldn't happen -- at least not because of money.

Besides the one-fourth already approved by the state, half of the money for Charlotte's first light-rail line is supposed to come from the federal government and one-fourth from an additional half-cent sales tax Mecklenburg voters endorsed in 1998. Ballantine opposed the local tax.

Former state Sen. Wib Gulley, D-Durham, who left the legislature to become the chief lawyer for the group that runs Raleigh's rail project, said Ballantine had supported rail before he started planning to run for governor a couple of years ago. Ballantine says he's always opposed state money for rail.

The debate has created heated discussion among other local politicos about whether rail has popular support. Republican City Council member Pat Mumford said, "If you listen to talk radio, you believe that there's no Republican that believes in transit," and described Ballantine's stance as frustrating.

Some of those grass-roots radio listeners might be the ones Ballantine is trying to capture. Mike Castano, a former member of the Charlotte City Council, formed a group called Citizens For Affordable and Sensible Transit and has pushed buses as a cheaper alternative to light rail.

Ballantine said he wants the debate to remain civil. He says the state depends on Charlotte as an economic engine. And his campaign might depend on Charlotte as a source of Republican votes.

"Charlotte doesn't need light rail to be a world-class city," Ballantine said. "Charlotte is already a world-class city."