Republican congressional candidate Renee Ellmers, fresh off an endorsement from Sarah Palin, threw a debate challenge out to opponent U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge.
The Facebook endorsement from Palin on Wednesday appeared to energize Ellmers' campaign and led Etheridge, a Lillington Democrat, to say that voters should expect Ellmers would take orders from Palin.
Ellmers, a Dunn resident, came back Thursday with: "Congressman Etheridge has been taking his instructions on job creation from Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi.
"As a result, half a million more people have lost jobs. Job creation is a debate I want to have with Bob Etheridge - so I challenge him to stop dodging and agree to a debate on job creation now."
Etheridge campaign spokesman said the incumbent isn't dodging anything. The candidates in the race have received multiple invitations for debates, and the question isn't "if," but "when," said Mike Davis, the campaign spokesman.
"The congressman has always done multiple events with opponents and would anticipate and plan on doing it this time," Davis said.
Hill has bypass surgery
State Rep. Dewey Hill is recovering from bypass surgery.
The Star-News of Wilmington reported that Hill, a Columbus County Democrat, went to New Hanover Regional Medical Center last week with complaints of chest pains. On Thursday, Barry Smith of Freedom Newspapers reported that Hill is recovering well from his surgery.
GOP funding list omits Johnson
In what it calls the "first wave" of its fall plan to take back the House, the National Republican Congressional Committee this week released the 40 districts where it has reserved $22 million of air time.
Missing from the list: North Carolina's 8th District, represented by Larry Kissell.
Kissell, a Biscoe Democrat whose district stretches from Charlotte to Fayetteville, faces Republican Harold Johnson. Republicans have said they believe the seat is in play, so the lack of support from Washington Republicans is a bit of a surprise.
"I'm not concerned about that," Johnson said in an interview. "We had an excellent day of fundraising. We had a very good week last week. We're moving forward. ... I know this is a very close race."
Last month, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reserved $871,000 in airtime on Charlotte stations for South Carolina Democratic Rep. John Spratt and Kissell. It was part of $7.7 million in TV time reservations the campaign group has made on behalf of Democratic House incumbents.
The DCCC has reserved an additional $290,000 in South Carolina markets for Spratt.
By staff writer Benjamin Niolet and Charlotte Observer staff writer Jim Morrill
