Bernie Reeves, a well-known Raleigh editor, publisher and conservative commentator, is considering a challenge to Democratic U.S. Rep. Brad Miller next year.

Reeves, 62, said he has been approached by a number of Republicans about running for the 13th District seat, and may enter the contest if he can make satisfactory business arrangements.

"I'm giving it very serious thought," Reeves said.

Reeves is the editor and publisher of Raleigh Metro Magazine, the most recentpublication he founded. He also founded the Raleigh International Spy Conference and often appears on television as a conservative commentator.

His brash, self-confident style is evident in the name of his column that appears in Raleigh Metro Magazine, "My Usual Charming Self."

Reeves said he is motivated to run because of unhappiness with the Democratic policies in Washington.

"I'm concerned about the socialist taint that is now happening under health care and especially with the climate debate," he said. "I'm concerned about the creation of a neo-Bolshevist world environmental government telling people what to do in their homes."

Yes, this is the president ...

Cal Cunningham received a phone call this week from President BarackObama, another indication that he is seen in Washington as the Democratic Party's strongest potential challenger to Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr.

Cunningham, a former state senator from Lexington, told Dome he talked with Obama about Cunningham's Senate campaign, although Cunningham said he didn't feel comfortable talking about the details of their conversation.

"I urged the president to [help] pass health care and move immediately on to a jobs bill that would help put North Carolinians back to work," Cunningham said.

The call from Obama is likely to be seen as a bit of political symbolism. Cunningham was recruited into the Senate race by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

The committee has promised to use its connections to help open doors to financial donors as Cunningham seeks to win the May Democratic primary.

Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and Chapel Hill lawyer Kenneth Lewis are also seeking the Democratic nomination.

Cunningham said the call was initiated by the White House and lasted nearly 10 minutes. He took the call Tuesday afternoon while sitting in the post office parking lot in his hometown of Lexington.

"I expect to work with him in the U.S. Senate, so it is important to develop those relationships," Cunningham said. "I had met him before, last year in the embassy in Baghdad, and had an engaging conversation then.

"I told him there would probably be places where he and I agreed and places where he and I disagreed. I wanted to work with him to help North Carolina."

During their previous meeting,Obama was a senator on a congressional fact-finding trip and Cunningham was an Army captain serving in Iraq.

Polls show tight Senate race

Two new polls indicate that North Carolina may be in for a close U.S. Senate race next year.

Public Policy Polling asked likely North Carolina voters whom they would pick: Republican incumbent Richard Burr or an unnamed Democrat?

The poll found that 42 percent favored Burr and 41 percent would go for the Democrat, while 17 percent were undecided.

But Burr held a more commanding lead over the three Democrats who are campaigning for the nomination.

Burr was the choice of 45 percent of those surveyed when matched against Cunningham, who was the choice of 36 percent of those surveyed.

Burr also led in match-ups against Chapel Hill lawyer Kenneth Lewis (43percent to 37) and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall (42-37). h

PPP surveyed 593 North Carolina voters from Dec. 11 through 13, and the poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4percentage points.

A new poll by the Civitas Institute shows Burr leading Marshall by 8 percentage points.

The poll of 600 likely North Carolina voters was conducted Dec. 1 through Dec. 3, before Cunningham entered the race. Civitas didn't ask about Lewis.

According to the poll, 40 percent favored Burr, while 32 percent favored Marshall.

The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

By staff writers Rob Christensen and Benjamin Niolet.

rob.christensen@newsobserver.com or 919-829-4532