Fist pound bumped Easley toward surgery

Who knew a fist bump could be so painful?

Gov. Mike Easley says the fist bump he shared in June with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama helped convince him he needed surgery on his right shoulder. Easley, a Democrat, held a news conference late last week to sign legislation expanding state authority during droughts.

He signed the bill with some difficulty, but he appeared in good spirits and was not wearing a sling two days after his surgery at Duke University Medical Center. He then told a few jokes, mentioning that each of his four shoulder surgeries has a story behind it.

The latest story? Easley said that the fist bump with Obama, which drew some national attention, was a little uncomfortable.

"He wanted to go up high with that right arm," Easley said.

Video from the event shows the two bumping fists, giving a thumbs-up and then raising an arm up high -- not easy for someone with an injured shoulder.

"I was smiling," Easley said, "but I was like, 'I gotta get this fixed.' "

Dole's PAC gave $300,000

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole's political committee gave more than $300,000 in three years.

The Leadership Circle PAC run by the Salisbury Republican donated to 33 Republican campaigns for U.S. Senate, two Republicans running for U.S. House, the N.C. Republican Party and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, according to a database compiled by NPR.

The single biggest recipient was the senatorial committee, which Dole led from 2005 to 2007. It received $30,000. U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes, a Concord Republican, was next, with donations totaling $15,000.

Senate campaigns that received $10,000 apiece include those of Sens. Lincoln Chafee, Norm Coleman, Susan Collins, John Ensign, Conrad Burns, Jim Inhofe, Gordon Smith, Jon Kyl, Mark Kennedy, Mitch McConnell, Pat Roberts, Rick Santorum, Olympia Snowe, Jim Talent, John Sununu and John Cornyn.

The list also includes the failed campaigns of Mark Kennedy, Michael Steele and Tom Kean Jr.

Senate campaigns that received $5,000 each include those of Sens. Bob Corker, Saxby Chambliss, George Allen, Lindsey Graham, John Barrasso and Mike Dewine. It also includes the failed campaigns of Bob Schaffer, Jim Gilmore, Mike Bouchard, Mike Johanns, Mike McGavick, Pete Ricketts and John Raese.

The N.C. Republican Party received $7,000, while U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx received $2,500.

North Carolina's junior senator, Richard Burr, received $3,976.

Hagan gives Dole a run

Politico says the U.S. Senate race in North Carolina is competitive.

In its first-ever ranking, the online political newspaper and RealClearPolitics said the race between Dole and Democrat Kay Hagan is the eighth-most competitive in the country.

"For a senator with a profile as high as Dole's, one would think this race wouldn't make the list," the online newspaper said. "But the [Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee] has reserved nearly $6 million in advertising time against the senator, and the committee believes state Sen. Kay Hagan is one of its best recruits. Dole has a financial advantage, and her early ads helped her regain a comfortable lead in the polls. It remains to be seen whether she can hold on to that early edge."