RALEIGH -- The race for North Carolina lieutenant governor is a crowded field, but some say whoever wins could be headed to the governor's office.

"The main thing that the lieutenant governor does is get a leg up on running for governor," said Meredith College political science professor Clyde Frazier. "It's a high-profile position that makes its holder a candidate for governor, and that's what most of them do, and about a third of them seem to succeed."

Four Democrats are vying for the office: Winston-Salem city councilman Dan Besse, state Sen. Walter Dalton, attorney Hampton Dellinger and Canton Mayor Pat Smathers. They'll face off against four Republicans in the state primary May 6: Chemist Timothy Cook, security businessman Greg Dority, state Sen. Robert Pittenger and lawyer Jim Snyder.

Current Lieutenant Governor Beverly Perdue is leaving after eight years in office to campaign for governor against state Treasurer Richard Moore. Frazier said the gubernatorial race is one of many high-profile races this election season that overshadow the lieutenant governor's race.

"Because the presidential contest has sucked so much of the oxygen out of the race, then the gubernatorial contest has taken most of what's left," Frazier said. "The candidates are trying to talk about issues, but they're having a hard time."

"One of the candidates, Dan Besse, is talking about environmental issues, he's got a long environmental track record, and Walter Dalton is talking primarily about his role in education for the General Assembly," Frazier continued. "And Hampton Dellinger is talking more about national issues. They're talking about a lot more, but the problem they've all had is getting anybody to listen."

Frazier noted, "[But] I don't think there's anything they can do at this point. In a race like this where you're getting a much high-profile race drawing people's attention, it's very hard for the candidates to get any attention to break through for the voters," he said.

But he said the absence of an incumbent "certainly opens up the field" for lieutenant governor candidates.

"Everybody's more or less on an equal footing, and that's what you've seen with the poll results," he added.

He believes that's why voter turnout is key, not only to determine the race for lieutenant governor, but also to determine the future of North Carolina.

"The person who wins this race is most likely to be the next governor of North Carolina," Frazier said.