The North Carolina Senate candidates have agreed to three televised debates this fall, the most of any recent election.
Republican Sen. Richard Burr, his Democratic challenger Elaine Marshall and Libertarian candidate Michael Beitler will discuss the issues at 8 p.m. Oct. 13 on NBC 17 in Raleigh. The debate is sponsored by the station and by the N.C. League of Women Voters.
The candidates have agreed also to two debates sponsored by the N.C. Association of Broadcasters Foundation scheduled for Oct. 11 and Oct. 21. Details of those debates have not yet been worked out.
The major reason why there are so many debates is because Burr has agreed to them. Often, well-financed incumbents who are leading in the polls avoid debates because they don't want to give any publicity to their challengers. But shortly after the spring primaries, Burr said he was willing and eager to debate. The candidates have already held one debate in June at a meeting of the State Bar Association in Wilmington.
It was not clear whether Beitler would participate in the Oct. 11 and Oct. 21 debates.
Poll favors Republicans
In the race for the state legislature, Republicans are leading Democrats in a generic ballot 49-41 percent, according to a new poll by Public Policy Polling.
PPP surveyed 724 likely North Carolina voters Aug. 27-29 and asked respondents which party they would pick if the election for legislature were held today.
According to the poll results, 49 percent chose Republicans, 41 percent chose Democrats, and 10 percent were undecided.
The poll found that while Democrats don't appear to be abandoning the party, they may not be as likely to vote as Republicans. Among the respondents who said they were "very excited" about voting, 56 percent were Republican while 37 percent were Democrats.
The poll had a margin of error of 3.6 percentage points.
Hagan's 39th in wealth
U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan again made The Hill's list of 50 wealthiest members of Congress.
Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, checked in at No. 39 on the Washington paper's annual list, which is based on financial disclosure forms. According to The Hill's analysis of Hagan's 2009 form, she was worth $6.9 million.
Her portfolio was mostly unchanged from 2008, although she paid a Tampa, Fla., mortgage down from $500,000 to $250,000. The bulk of her wealth was in large stock holdings and pricey real estate investments.
She has liabilities of nearly $3 million.
Before anyone gets too jealous of Hagan's worth, it's helpful to note that by the standards of Congress, Hagan is hardly big time.
Massachusetts Democratic Sen. John Kerry, No. 1 on the list, is worth more than $188 million. Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain's worth is listed at $11.1 million, putting him at 23rd.
By staff writers Rob Christensen and Benjamin Niolet
