Gov. Patrick: It's the Tar Heel State, right?

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) warmed up the crowd for musician James Taylor at Monday's Carolina Fest by flattering the locals — but he almost botched the job.

"We both claim James Taylor — he's the son of the Commonwealth [of Massachusetts] and the Tar Heel State," he said, before quickly adding, "It is the Tar Heel State, right?"

Patrick's admission of ignorance drew mild chuckles from the crowd. But no harm, no foul — the public official poured on the sweet talk: "I like North Carolina — I've been here many times. It's wonderful to be around all this good home cooking."

Taylor, who was born in Massachusetts and moved to North Carolina when he was 3, came out wearing a navy-blue Obama T-shirt and started the performance with "Something in the Way She Moves."

"Ain't it great to be back in North Carolina?" Taylor said.

Sadly, the rain interrupted his performance halfway through, causing attendees to run for drier ground.