Religion Gets Legal in Senate Race

Democratic challenger Kay Hagan to sue Republican incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Dole for her ads accusing Hagan of accepting money from the Godless Americans Political Action Committee. The New Jersey based committee promotes separation of church and state as well as rights for atheists. 

After Dole refused to pull the ad, Hagan filed a defamation and libel lawsuit on Thursday. Hagan then proceeded to fire back with her own ad accusing Dole of breaking the Bible's Ninth Amendment, bearing false witnesses. Dole's camp says they have no intention of taking the ad down, that the lawsuit is a "silly political gimmick."

It was presumed that Elizabeth Dole would have an easy win for the Senate seat that has been Republican for the past 35 years. However, now that Obama is up in the polls and exciting people in North Carolina, the race has become an interesting one. Obama has certainly boosted Hagan's campaign, she has a shot at it now.  Dole's attack on the Presbyterian sunday school teacher may have been uncalled for. It was a risky move on her part. However, the lawsuit will not settle before election day...

Could the Dems take the Senate seat for the first time in over 3 decades? 

10 Days to Go, NC a Tossup

With only 10 days to final polls. CNN's recent polls show that NC is up for grabs. The polls are so close, it tough to call. A poll conducted Oct. 19-21 shows McCain 47% and Obama 51%. 

Will McCain pull this one out? I think he's in trouble. The usually red state is looking purple right now. North Carolina has not voted Democrat in a presidential election since Jimmy Carter in 1976. 

The influx of ads and rallies have pushed NC to a battleground state. New Rasmussen Report data suggests McCain has a 33% chance of winning the Tar Heels' electoral votes. On the other hand, ABC shows that Obama would need to win 40% of the white vote in order to carry the state. 

Biden's bad analogies

While speaking to a crowd of 1,500 at UNC today, Biden's analogy to Bush as a duck caught the attention of the Charlotte Observer. 

"If it walks like a duck, if it looks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck, it's a duck...well guess what? John McCain and Sarah Palin are quacking like George Bush." After he tried his luck with a NASCAR analogy...that didn't turn out so well. Republican spokesman Alex Conant said "Joe Biden is being loose with his 'rhetorical flourishes' again. To offer a more accurate NASCAR analogy than Biden did: If Obama wins, he will raise taxes and our economy will go from a yellow to red flag." 

This was Biden's 3rd trip to North Carolina since the DNC. He continued on to Winston-Salem and Raleigh. Is his 'loose rhetoric' hurting the campaign?

Palin Watches Debates with "Real" Americans

Fox News reports that Palin watched the debates last night at a local sports bar in Greenville, NC. North Carolina Senators Richard burr and Elizabeth Dole joined the Governor, who was wearing an East Carolina University jacket.

Palin said "I wanted to come to Greenville so I could watch the debates from here with a whole lot of real Americans, hard working Americans because you guys get it." Going along with her "Joe 6-pack" saying, I think this was a smart move for Palin. She has a way of making people feel comfortable around her and putting out the image that she, too is a "real" American with the people's best interest at heart.

As for the state of North Carolina, Palin's public speech sold out quickly. According to the Charlotte Observer Online, her visit can be attributed by the recent national and local polls showing Obama's surge in the state. Obama has recently been targeting North Carolina, a usually solid Republican state. Susan Lagana, the Communications Director of the NC Obama Campaign released a statement saying "North Carolina is in play, her visit here is a sign that they're running out of time."

The polls show that NC is becoming a swing state. Will the usually strong Republican state swing Left this year? This will be an interesting state to watch. I think the McCain camp should pay a little more attention to NC -they're not convinced just yet.