CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Governor Pat McCrory issued a statement late Tuesday afternoon, nearly a full day after the NCAA announced it was pulling all tournament games out of North Carolina because of House Bill Two.
In a statement, McCrory said he wished everyone would let the fate of HB2 play out in federal court "without economic threats or political retaliation toward the 22 states that are currently challenging government overreach."
McCrory's statement goes on to add, "Sadly the NCAA, a multi-billion dollar, tax-exempt monopoly, failed to show this respect at the expense of our student-athletes and hard-working men and women."
In pulling the tournament games, the NCAA said in a statement fairness to all has to come, "before playing games or competing for championships."
Political Science Professor Michael Bitzer from Catawba College says the fallout from HB2 is going to play a role in the November race for Governor.
He says the average of the most recent polls show Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper with an 8-point lead over the Republican Governor McCrory.
That kind of a margin does not exist in the Presidential race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton where it is almost a dead heat.
"So obviously there is something else dragging McCrory down," said Bitzer.
Passed in March, HB2 limits protections for members of the LGBT community.
Almost immediately after it became law PayPal canceled plans for a new operations center in Charlotte that would have meant 400 new jobs.
Bruce Springsteen and several entertainers canceled plans to come to North Carolina in protest.
Then, just two months ago, the NBA said that because of HB2 the All-Star Game scheduled for next February would not be played in Charlotte, costing potentially $100-million to the city in projected revenues.
"The impact of HB2 on tournament hostings here in North Carolina really sends a signal that this particular policy has deeper ramifications than I think a lot of people realize," explained Bitzer.