RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — More than $3 million in contributions for Democrats running for Congress or governor may not be used for its intended purpose because of the shake-up in North Carolina's governor's race.

Gov. Beverly Perdue's campaign had more than $2 million in the bank just before she announced two weeks ago that she wouldn't seek a second term, according to her most recent campaign records.

There was also more than $1 million in the federal campaign accounts of three former or current Democratic congressmen who have entered or may enter the contest to succeed Perdue. Election laws prevent federal candidates from using most of the money now for individual state campaigns, according to the State Board of Elections.

The only way to access some of the federal candidate contributions for gubernatorial bids could prove cumbersome and unwieldy, especially heading into a primary election that's 13 weeks away.

The rules add to the obstacles facing Democrats eyeing a race against former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, the likely GOP nominee. His campaign had as much cash as Perdue's did by the end of 2011. Outside groups also are expected to spend millions in the general election campaign.

Campaign records show Perdue had raised $4 million since 2009 prepping for an expected rematch with McCrory. Now that she's out of the race, Perdue must decide what to do with the money, and it isn't all required to go to political endeavors. She also could choose to repay herself or husband Bob Eaves some or all of the roughly $800,000 still loaned to her committee.

"There's no decision yet regarding the campaign's funds," Perdue campaign committee spokesman Marc Farinella said Wednesday in an email.

State law says Perdue could contribute to other candidates, although she would be limited, like other campaign committees, to giving $4,000 per each state primary, election or runoff. But she could also give unlimited amounts to the state Democratic Party or donate to other party committees.

Without specifically discussing campaign finances, Perdue said Tuesday she planned to work to keep the Executive Mansion in Democratic hands this November. She called the three Democrats in the race as of Wednesday — Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, former U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge and state Rep. Bill Faison — "seasoned candidates."

"We hope to have a very vigorous general election. I anticipate being heavily involved in that," Perdue told reporters. She sidestepped a question about whether she would endorse anyone in the primary.

Perdue has other options for spending her campaign money. The Bev Perdue Committee could return contributions to donors, give donations to charity or to the state's Escheats Fund, or continue to pay for expenses related to her public office or winding down her campaign operations.

For example, the committee paid nearly $31,000 in the second half of 2011 for services from a Raleigh law firm that's handled her campaign finance matters for years. There's a pending criminal investigation related to Perdue's 2008 campaign activity, although the local prosecutor handling the case said Perdue isn't the focus of the probe.

Etheridge, the former seven-term congressman from Harnett County, had $140,714 in cash in his congressional campaign account as of Dec. 31, his federal campaign report said.

Someone such as Etheridge couldn't convert the federal money directly to his state gubernatorial campaign committee, State Board of Elections director Gary Bartlett said Wednesday, citing a review from a lawyer at the state Attorney General's Office. Instead, federal and state election laws would limit the federal committee to giving $4,000 per election, too.

Two other Democratic congressmen considering bids — Brad Miller of Raleigh and Mike McIntyre of Lumberton — had a combined $883,000 in their federal campaign coffers at the end of 2011, their campaign reports said.

McIntyre, who had $687,284 in cash, is expected to face a tough re-election bid if he doesn't run for governor after redistricting placed his home outside of the 7th District. Miller declined to run for re-election this year because he was drawn into the same district as longtime Democratic Rep. David Price of Chapel Hill.

Candidates could attempt to convert some of the federal campaign dollars to state campaign use by refunding money to donors, then asking them to send the proceeds to the candidate's state campaign committee, according to Jan Baran, a Washington-based attorney specialized in federal campaign law. Determining who would receive refunds from the remaining cash on hand may prove difficult, however.

Other Democrats considering bids for governor include state Sen. Dan Blue of Wake County and former State Treasurer Richard Moore.