Easley stars in ads for drug plan

Gov. Mike Easley is spending about $100,000 of leftover campaign money on television advertisements, now airing across the state, touting his prescription drug assistance plan for low-income senior citizens.

Easley has also distributed a radio ad to stations and asked them to air it as a free public service.

No state money is involved in the ads, which come as Easley is taking a higher profile in state party politics by attending events and stumping for candidates in ways he has shunned in recent years. The governor, a Democrat who cannot seek re-election because of term limits, is the focus of talk about his future in politics.

But the new TV spots are only "about the governor's concern for North Carolina seniors," said spokesman Seth Effron.

The ads urge seniors to find out whether they are eligible for state help in paying their prescription drug premiums.

The state expects to cover up to $18 per month in insurance premiums for about 50,000 seniors.

In the ads, Easley urges seniors to see if they are eligible by calling (888) 488-NCRX toll-free, or by visiting a Web site, www.ncrx.gov. At the Web site, visitors are greeted with a smiling photo of Easley.

Taylor's uphill battle

Mountain residents prefer Democratic congressional candidate Heath Shuler to Republican incumbent Charles Taylor, an Elon University Poll found.

About half of the residents in U.S. House District 11 don't like the way Taylor is handling his job, according to the poll released Monday.

Taylor's congressional career "may be coming to an end," Elon poll director Hunter Bacot said. Taylor, a banker and timber producer, is seeking his ninth term.

Shuler is a former NFL quarterback who grew up in the district.

The poll, conducted from Oct. 22-26, surveyed 400 residents in District 11. The poll has a margin of sampling error of about 5 percentage points.

The poll surveyed the general population. More than 66 percent said they were "extremely likely" to vote in the election.

In another poll question, residents were asked whether they would support the Democratic candidate or the Republican candidate in the U.S. House race, though the candidates were not mentioned by name.

Twenty-six percent said they would support the Republican, and 46 percent said they would support the Democrat.

Easley aide promoted

Easley's former press secretary, Sherri Johnson, has received a 9.5 percent pay raise to go with a new title. Johnson was promoted to communications director last month after former top aide Cari Boyce left Easley's office for Progress Energy.

Johnson said she will now be paid $94,088 a year.

In the eyes of Blue

Once and future state Rep. Dan Blue, a Raleigh Democrat, mentioned a doctor visit during his speech accepting his selection last week by a Wake County Democratic Party committee for a vacant spot in the state House he once led.

Some supporters say Blue could make a fresh bid for speaker, replacing the embattled Jim Black, a Matthews optometrist at the center of a corruption scandal.

Blue, a Raleigh lawyer and former House speaker who left the legislature four years ago to run for U.S. Senate, said he had gone to his eye doctor earlier that day -- and got surprising news.

"He said, 'Dan, your vision has improved since you left the legislature'," Blue said to laughter.

"He really said that," Blue said. "And it's probably true. The vision that I carry back to the General Assembly is a somewhat different one than I left with."

The governor's haunts

Trick or treaters can meet Easley and his wife, Mary, tonight at the governor's mansion in downtown Raleigh, part of an annual tradition.

The Easleys are expected to greet children from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the mansion, 200 N. Blount St.