Dole to miss Republican National Convention

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole will be a no-show at her party's big bash in St. Paul, Minn.

Dole spokeswoman Katie Hallaway confirmed Monday that Dole won't be at the Republican National Convention in September.

"She's got a busy week scheduled in North Carolina," Hallaway said. "When there are breaks in the Senate schedule, she spends as much time as possible in North Carolina."

Hallaway said nothing should be inferred about Dole's missing the convention -- either about her support for Sen. John McCain or about the security of her re-election in November.

Dole is in a tough battle for re-election against Democratic state Sen. Kay Hagan. Dole will be visiting with businesses, organizations and other constituent groups, but Hallaway said the schedule is not final.

She also is one of the bona fide rock stars of the GOP, the type of speaker who could rally the faithful. Dole had a prime time TV speaking role at the last GOP convention in New York City, where she praised President Bush and talked in support of traditional marriage, freedom of religion and the sanctity of life.

A spokeswoman for Hagan said she had not decided whether to attend the Democratic National Convention next month in Denver.

Easley to have surgery

Gov. Mike Easley will undergo shoulder surgery today.

The two-hour surgery will remove bone spurs from his right shoulder area damaged by "extensive use of the shoulder during exercise, sports and physical activities over several years," said his doctor, Dr. Bill Garrett, in a statement.

"He will be able to work but will be wearing a sling for the next three to four weeks," Garrett's statement said. "I am advising the governor to restrict activity for several months and to refrain from high-impact or strenuous activity like contact basketball, golf, shooting shotguns, weight lifting or NASCAR driving until next year. We might suggest he sign bills lefthanded as well. His signature will not be any worse."

Easley's activity will be restricted for several months. The surgery at Duke Hospital in Durham will involve only local anesthesia, and Easley will remain governor during the surgery.

Health-care donors

Beverly Perdue has received $98,500 from health-care-related political action committees.

Committees representing drug companies, health-care providers, insurance companies and industry associations were the single largest group of PAC donors to the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, according to campaign finance reports.

They made up about a fourth of the $376,293 she raised from PACs since her re-election in 2004. Other politicians' campaign committees were a close second, contributing $91,933, with about a third of that coming from other Democratic senators.

The biggest donors were the N.C. Hospital Association and the NP PAC, which represents nurse practitioners. Both gave $8,000. PACs for the Asheville Anesthesia Associates and the Association for Home and Hospice Care of N.C. gave $5,000 apiece.

Drug companies whose PACs donated included GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Roche, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Wyeth, Pfizer and Abbott Labs. Pharmacy chains such as Kerr Drug, pharmacist managers Medco Health and Caremark and the PILL PAC, which represents pharmacists, also gave.

Perdue also received money from trade groups: the N.C. Medical Society, the N.C. Health Care Facilities Association, the N.C. Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the N.C. Assisted Living Association, the N.C. Association of Long Term Care Facilities and the N.C. Orthopaedic PAC.

Perdue previously worked at a hospital and has made health care a signature issue.

State employees picks

The State Employees Association of North Carolina has made its endorsements.

The group's Employees Political Action Committee, also known as EMPAC, made 16 endorsements in statewide races after meeting Saturday.

The group endorsed several incumbents: Attorney General Roy Cooper, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson and Appeals Court judges John Arrowood, Doug McCullough, Linda Stephens and Jim Wynn.

The others: Perdue for governor, Walter Dalton for lieutenant governor, Wayne Goodwin for insurance commissioner, Ronnie Ansley for agriculture commissioner, Mary Fant Donnan for labor commissioner, Suzanne Reynolds for Supreme Court and Kristin Ruth for Appeals Court.

The list includes one Republican: State Auditor Les Merritt.