DURHAM -- Durham County Commissioner Lewis Cheek, who is trying to collect enough signatures to challenge District Attorney Mike Nifong in November, said at a news conference today that the Duke University lacrosse case has turned Durham into a circus.

"I don't like my home being a national laughing stock," Cheek told reporters at a press conference at the Durham County Board of Elections. "This circus didn't need to happen."

Cheek has a committee to raise money and supporters who have mailed thousands of requests for petitions across Durham County. This morning, the veteran Democrat offered his most detailed explanation about why he is trying to collect more than 6,000 signatures to get on the November ballot.

Cheek and Durham lawyer Steve Monks, chairman of the county's Republican Party, have announced petition drives to challenge Nifong. Both campaigns are in response to growing criticism over Nifong's handling of the rape allegations at a lacrosse team party. Three players have been charged in connection with an escort service dancer's claim she was raped at the March 13 party at a Buchanan Boulevard house rented by three lacrosse co-captains.

Cheek and Monks have criticized Nifong's public statements about the case in the early days of the investigation.

"As DA, you don't prejudge," Cheeks said. "You don't engage in public discourse."

Cheek, a civil lawyer, has limited experience in the criminal courts, he acknowledged at the news conference.

Both lawyers have uphill battles to get on the ballot. They each have to collect 6,303 valid signatures of Durham County voters by noon Friday to have their names added as unaffiliated candidates in the November election. Nifong won the Democratic primary in May. No Republicans ran in the primary.

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