Dole Out - Kay Hagan In

The state-run media (aka Fox News) is projecting Kay Hagan to be the newest US Senator from North Carolina.  Liddy Dole has officially been fired.

ElectBlue congratulates Kay Hagan, her family and her campaign staff!

Your Help Is Needed Immediately

Late polls in North Carolina show a close race between Kay Hagan and Republican Liddy Dole. For Democrats to get to 60 seats in the Senate, this is a must-win contest. This is not a time to become complacent.

You can help now.. regardless of where you live.  Here's how.

The Hagan campaign has set up a phone-banking system for those who do not live in North Carolina.  Sign up here at this website, and a campaign representative will get in touch with you. (http://www.kayhagan.com/action/dial)

Liddy Dole is out of touch with North Carolina residents. No wonder every major newspaper in North Carolina has endorsed Hagan. In six days, voters in North Carolina will have the chance to fire Dole. However, your help will be needed to achieve that goal.

Sign up today to become a Hagan volunteer, making calls into North Carolina. You do not have to live in North Carolina to help. For more information, contact the Hagan campaign by phone at (336) 617-7416.

Absentee Resident Dole

Is it too much to ask that a U.S. Senator actually spend time in their home state? That's the question residents in North Carolina should be asking themselves.

According to official Senate sources, press releases and North Carolina newspaper clips, Dole has spent very little time getting to know North Carolinians since being elected in 2002. Although she was born in North Carolina, she hadn't been a resident for decades until 2001 when she decided to run for the open Jesse Helms' seat.

For 33 years, the Dole's had lived in the prestigious Watergate Apartment Complex before Elizabeth declared her primary residence at her mother's home in North Carolina. Not everyone was thrilled about the idea. The perception of Dole being a carpetbagger was strong even then, although Republicans welcomed her with open arms. The chair of the Republican party had these nice words to say about the new resident.

"She's considered a North Carolinian who's been on duty in Washington for a long time."

Maybe the perception of being a Washington insider served Dole an advantage in 2002, but something tells me that's not the case in 2008.

Bless her heart...

After one term, the long time Washington insider is in a fight for her political life. Recent polls show "Senator Nowhere" trailing lifelong North Carolina resident Kay Hagan, and North Carolinians are taking notice of where Dole really lives this time.  

Let's face it. Some people spend more days on a Smoky Mountain vacation than Dole spends at her primary home in a whole year. According to a study by Media General News Service, in her first five years as Senator Mrs. Dole spent 90% of her time outside of North Carolina.

YEAR	Dole Days In NC	% of year
2003	55	15%
2004	34	9%
2005	20	5%
2006	13	4%
2007	50	14%
2008	97 to date	27%

No wonder North Carolinians are ready to fire Elizabeth Dole. That's usually what happens when you don't show up to work, right?  Help Kay Hagan serve Liddy Dole her pink slip on November 4th by contributing to her campaign today.

Hagan Extends Lead Over Dole

A new Rasmussen poll from North Carolina released yesterday shows Democrat Kay Hagan extending her lead over Republican incumbent Elizabeth Dole, 51-46. Both Hagan and Obama have made significant gains in the past month over their Republican opponents. Our current Balance of Power Projection shows the U.S. Senate race as too close to call. 

CQ: Hagan Has Dole 'Playing Defense'

A fresh story from Congressional Quarterly details the U.S. Senate race in North Carolina.  A few highlights from Marie Horrigan.  Full story here.

• CQ's projection of the North Carolina US Senate race moves from leaning Dole to tossup.
  
• Recent polls indicate a very competitive race.
• Dole has been ranked the 93rd most effective Senator.  Hagan on the other hand has been ranked in the top 10 as a North Carolina State Senator.
• Fundraising:  78% of Hagan's money has come from donations within North Carolina, compared to just 41% for Dole. Hagan has raised $1 million in online donations alone.

ElectBlue, on August 26th, also projected this race as too close to call.

Help Kay Hagan defeat Liddy Dole by making a contribution today.   

What's With Republicans & Their Memories Lately?

In less than a three weeks, we've witnessed John McCain forget how many homes he owns.  This week, it's Liddy Dole forgetting the name of her own business.  And now, Sarah Palin can't remember her own opinion on global warming.  

From Taegan Goddard this morning.

"Show me where I've ever said that there's absolute proof that nothing that man has ever conducted or engaged in has had any effect or no effect on climate change."
-- Governor Sarah Palin, September 11, 2008, ABC News Interview

"A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I'm not one though who would attribute it to being man-made."

--Governor Sarah Palin, August 29, 2008, Newsmax Interview

Wall Street Journal - Dole Struggles Against Republican 'Baggage'

Hagan getting some national exposure in the WSJ today. Take note of the quote at the bottom.

In North Carolina, Libby Dole Battles Foe, Own Party's Baggage

By SARAH LUECK
September 12, 2008; Page A8

PITTSBORO, N.C. -- Six years ago, Elizabeth Dole won a Senate seat based on a long record in Washington and powerful ties to top Republicans. Few thought her re-election was in doubt.

But this year, with voters frustrated with Washington in general and Republicans in particular, Mrs. Dole is in a bruising battle to keep her job, according to recent polls. Her race against Democrat Kay Hagan, a North Carolina state senator, has become one of the more aggressive campaigns of this election, with each side hammering the other in television ads and public statements.

Sign of a Struggle

The North Carolina race is a sign of the struggle facing Republican incumbents around the country. Few have the résumé of Mrs. Dole, one of the best-known members of the party. She is married to former presidential candidate and Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, has served as a cabinet secretary in two Republican administrations and was president of the nonpartisan American Red Cross.

Democrats are trying to turn Mrs. Dole's near-celebrity reputation into a liability. A series of ads says she's voted with President Bush 92% of the time and charges that she hasn't accomplished much as a senator, despite 40 years in Washington. "I fully expect to win," Mrs. Hagan said. "She hasn't been effective at all for North Carolina." 
.Mrs. Hagan's team has been encouraging supporters to hold "ruby-slipper parties," a reference to her promise to send Mrs. Dole "back to Kansas," her husband's native state and where she was registered to vote for years before running for Senate in North Carolina.

At a Memorial Day event in Thomasville, the two women met and exchanged pleasantries. "I've been wanting to meet you, too," said Mrs. Dole before adding -- without cracking a smile -- "I wear an 8½ medium."

Mrs. Dole, for her part, says she will prevail. She won in 2002, against a former Clinton administration official, by nine percentage points. Some supporters predict she'll win again, though perhaps by a smaller margin.

"The Senate race in North Carolina is always competitive, so you expect that you go out to work hard and to get the record out," Mrs. Dole said. "I think we'll come out fine."

Mrs. Dole skipped the Republicans' national convention to campaign. She picked up an endorsement from the National Federation of Independent Business, a small-business group. Meanwhile, Mrs. Hagan spent the week discussing education. She held a roundtable discussion at school in Colfax, where she discussed suggested changes to the No Child Left Behind law.

Mrs. Dole seems hurt by the criticism leveled against her. At one forum, she spoke to agribusiness leaders about a multibillion-dollar buyout of tobacco farmers that passed Congress in 2004, a legislative accomplishment she often cites on the campaign trail. Then, Mrs. Hagan spoke while Mrs. Dole lingered in the wings.

"Her first words were, 'Elizabeth Dole didn't get the tobacco quota buyout for you. You did it,' and it just went from there," Mrs. Dole recalled. "Standing there watching it, it was fascinating. I mean it was just, tear me down."

Mrs. Hagan was not "tearing her down," responded spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan. "She takes opportunities to contrast her record of results with Elizabeth Dole's record of ineffectiveness," she said.

Mrs. Dole hit back last week with an ad featuring a small, barking dog repeatedly running at, and then into, a white picket fence, suggesting that Mrs. Hagan -- dubbed "Fibber Kay" in the ad -- is making a lot of noise but no progress.

Asked about the ad, Mrs. Dole said: "After six weeks of the mudslinging at me, it's time to say, 'Enough.' "

No Mention of Fight

At a recent visit with leaders of the Chatham County Chamber of Commerce, about 50 miles southeast of Greensboro, Mrs. Dole made no mention of the tough campaign fight. She discussed her support for greater offshore oil drilling and low taxes, and chatted about this year's apple crop and her work with a Christian antihunger charity.

David Poe, a long-term-care insurance agent who attended the meeting, said he was impressed that Mrs. Dole "was as on top of issues as she was." But he said he is not sure if he will vote for her.

"I'm disgusted with everyone in Washington. I'm pretty much of the opinion that if I could get rid of every incumbent there right now and just start over, we might be better off," said Mr. Poe, who is registered as unaffiliated.

Bob Garrison, a Greensboro mortgage banker, says he typically votes straight-ticket Republican. But he is upset about the Iraq war and is not sure about this year. To vote for Mrs. Dole, he said, "I guess I'd have to overcome some of the negative publicity about her."

McMemory. Liddy Can't Remember Either

John McCain doesn't know how many houses he owns.  And Republican Liddy Dole can't remember the name of her own business.  The Rocky Mount Telegram details an interview with news reporters on Monday.

Dole (while laughing): I think (Hagan) has indicated many times that I’m from Kansas. But my roots are very deep in North Carolina. Very deep. Here, I grew up in Salisbury, went to the public schools, spent 11 years on the Duke board after I graduated from Duke, own a home there. I own a business in North Carolina, for goodness sake. My family roots go way, way back.

Reporters: What business do you own?

Dole: We had a family farm, which was turned into a real estate development. And it’s just outside of Salisbury. It’s just a beautiful development.

Reporters: What’s the name of the development?

Dole: [10-second Pause followed by nervous laughter] Well…

[Another pause]

Reporters: It’s fine if you …

Dole: I have to stop and think for a moment.

[Brief pause]

Reporters: If you can’t think of it, it’s fine.

Dole: I’ll get it for you. I will.

Reporters: Well, I also wanted to ask you about the tone of the race and your opponent’s …

Dole: It’s Forest Glen. That’s right. Because it’s right in the forest where my dad had a little cabin and built a little pool for us as children. That’s right. Forest Glen.

After all these years, the late Ann Richards still helps us understand these kinds of Republicans [video]. Liddy can't help it. She was born with a silver foot in her mouth.  I'm certain Ann would agree.

Here's Kay Hagan's statement released just a moment ago.

"When Dole was finally able to remember the name of the business – it’s Forest Glen, by the way – it was too late. Mike Hixenbaugh from the Rocky Mount Telegram wrote, “…the first-term Republican senator did temporarily forgot the name of the business that she was using as evidence of her deep roots in North Carolina. Apparently some of those roots are so deep, it’s hard to pull ‘em up from time to time.”

“If Elizabeth Dole can’t recall the details of her own personal life in North Carolina, it does beg the question how much she’s paying attention to other peoples’ lives in the state,” said Hagan Campaign Communications Director Colleen Flanagan. “Kay is the candidate who was born here, raised a family here, lives here, and for the last decade, served the people here. The last thing North Carolinians want is another six years of an absentee, out-of-touch Senator who swoops in for photo-ops and election year events and is gone before you know it.”

As Elizabeth Dole tries to invoke “Scarlett O’Hara as she works the Tobacco Road campaign circuit,” she’s had to answer for some very real concerns folks have in the state. Elizabeth Dole left North Carolina in the 1950s and ended up in Washington, DC. Registered for 25 years as a Kansan, even running for President as a Jayhawk before she ran for U.S. Senate in North Carolina, Elizabeth Dole registered to vote here two days after Jesse Helms announced his retirement in 2001. In March, the Charlotte Observer wrote Dole “undoubtedly has her eye on November” and has stepped up visits to the Tar Heel state during this election year.

“Carolina is Kay country through and through. It’s typical of Washington politicians to breeze through here in an election year, intimating that they’ve been here the whole time,” Flanagan said. “This time, though, North Carolinians have one of their own to elect to the U.S. Senate, and they know she’s been here the whole time. If Elizabeth Dole can’t keep track of her business, how is she going to keep track of yours?"

Meanwhile, Kay wants to get our economy moving again by balancing budgets, cutting taxes, and investing in education.  That is Kay Hagan's record.  Liddy Dole?  Shameless ties to big oil and a Bush agent of policies that send American jobs overseas. Here's Kay's new ad. 

Kay Hagan In Her Own Words

We are very pleased to post the following blog, sent exclusively to ElectBlue, by Kay Hagan, Democratic candidate for the US Senate from North Carolina. The seat is currently held by Republican Elizabeth Dole. Ms. Hagan writes:

Thank you for giving me the chance to update all the readers at ElectBlue about our campaign. I hope you will also take this chance and visit my website at www.kayhagan.com to learn more, watch our most recent videos and television ads, and tell your friends about my campaign.

Years from now, we’ll look back on this election – the historic turnout, the enthusiasm, the involvement of people from all walks of life, all ages, all over the country – and we’ll fully understand what we were all a part of in 2008.

There’s a groundswell of optimism here in North Carolina – optimism rooted in the fact that this is finally our chance for change, driving the belief that as tough as things may appear, the momentum is finally on our side.

When somebody asks me why I’m running, I tell them it’s because Washington is broken. Gas prices are nearly $4 a gallon; the opportunity to go to college feels farther out of reach; health care costs are putting pressures on every single family; and our economy is on the brink.

And while things are out of balance because the special interests have too much power in Washington, we’ve been doing things right in North Carolina. As a state senator for the past ten years, we’ve worked to increase teacher pay, raise the minimum wage and in my five years as the Budget Committee chair, we balanced our budget every year. Now that’s a far cry from what’s been going on in Washington.

With all due respect to Elizabeth Dole and her 40 years in Washington, she’s out of touch with North Carolinians and has become a reliable rubberstamp for George Bush, having voted with him 92% of the time. As North Carolinians are struggling to make ends meet, Elizabeth Dole continues as if it’s business as usual.

It’s a way of doing business that puts special interests and their lobbyists before working families in North Carolina; gives billions in tax breaks and incentives to oil companies when we’re paying nearly $4 a gallon; rewards companies who send North Carolina jobs overseas; and that’s built an economy structured around benefitting the big corporations while working families foot the bill.

I’m running for this seat because North Carolinians deserve better than Washington’s broken system, and I know I can level the playing field for middle class families. Thank you for your support!

Poll: Hagan Still Leading Dole In NC - Obama gains

A second straight poll in North Carolina shows incumbent Liddy Dole in deep trouble.

Last week, PPP showed Hagan taking a 3 point lead.  Now, Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research has released a new poll showing Kay Hagan extending her lead over Dole, 50-45 (48-43 without leaners). Survey in pdf format here.

Key findings:  

•  Just 38% of voters approve of the way Dole is handling her job as a Senator.
  
•  Only 22% of voters in North Carolina believe the nation is on the right track.

Support Kay Hagan today in her campaign to defeat Liddy Dole.  Click here to contribute.

Respondents were also asked about their choice for president.  McCain holds a razor-thin margin over Obama 47-43 (Barr 4%).  Without leaners, the race is tied 43-43.  Bush won North Carolina by 12.5% in 2004 and 13% in 2000.

Key findings:  

• 59% of respondents believe John McCain represents "more of the same."
  
• Voters believe Barack Obama would handle the economy better by a 52-38 margin.
  
• 70% of respondents believe John McCain "supports George Bush's policies."
  
• Obama leads McCain 50-41 on the issue of "building strong alliances with other countries."

Fight back against the GOP Convention lies.  Support Barack Obama today with a $10.00 contribution.