Pat McCrory continues his big fundraising push, attracting another major GOP name to an event next month in Durham.
Former GOP presidential candidate Steve Forbes will headline the event March 3 at the Washington Duke Inn. The cheapest ticket costs $100, with sponsors paying $4,000 and hosts, $1,000. Among the co-sponsors and hosts: C.T. Moorman, Robert and Barry Taylor, Nick Tennyson, Chris Mumma and Bill Cobey.
Other Republicans who previously helped McCrory raise money: Chris Christie, Bobby Jindal and Nikki Haley.
Democrats ponder race
The three announced Democratic candidates for governor are scheduled to appear together Friday night at the Wake County Democratic Party's 32nd annual Valentine Fund event. Scheduled to speak are Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, Rep. Bill Faison and former U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge.
The event starts at 5:30 p.m. at the headquarters of the N.C. Association of Educators Building. It's likely to be abuzz about who is and is not likely to get into the race. Three major Democrats have said they are looking at the race: state Sen. Dan Blue, U.S. Rep. Brad Miller, and former state Treasurer Richard Moore.
Word on the street is that Blue seems to be leaning against running. Miller was supposed to have made a decision a week ago, and every day that goes by without any word raises questions about whether he is having doubts.
Moore is still making calls and seems the most likely of the three to run at this juncture, according to several Democratic insiders.
Candidates sought
Americans for Prosperity, a conservative advocacy group, is trolling for good state legislative candidates.
The group sent a robo-call to targeted North Carolina homes Monday looking for people who would "promote the principles of limited government and free markets" and sign a no-tax pledge. "Have you ever considered running for office? The filing period for running for the state legislature begins today," the call starts.
Are conservatives having trouble finding candidates? No, says Dallas Woodhouse, the group's executive director. "We have done this before, and have been successful is getting people to file for office and sign the no-tax-increase pledge," he said. "Last year we had many candidates who signed the pledge, and some were recruited this way."
School begs off Price event
A local Catholic school is changing its mind about letting Democratic U.S. Rep. David Price hold a town hall meeting Monday on its campus.
Jason Curtis, principal at Cardinal Gibbons High School, which is operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, said he gave Price's office permission for the event but then began to have concerns.
"I didn't realize that holding a political event could jeopardize our status as a religious institution," Curtis said.
The event will take place at 5:15 Monday at the Jim Martin Building at the State Fairgrounds.
Republican Valentines
Do you have a special Valentine in mind who dislikes President Barack Obama and Gov. Bev Perdue?
Well, the Republican National Committee has just the e-card for you. The RNC unveiled the annual www .GOPValentine .com cards Tuesday, including one with the lyrical, yet not so romantic, quip: "Roses are red/ Violets are blue/ My coattailsweren't strong enough to save Perdue."
