Democrats, Berry spar over contributions

The N.C. Democratic Party has called on state Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry to return campaign contributions from companies she regulates.

"Our workers' safety should not be compromised by Cherie Berry's need for campaign cash," state Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Meek said.

The statement follows a Charlotte Observer story last week that reported that Berry has collected at least half of her contributions from executives and managers of companies her Labor Department has inspected. The story also found that Berry's contributors got bigger-than-average reductions in fines resulting from workplace safety inspections.

Berry, a Republican running for her third term, has said there is no connection between campaign contributions and decisions made by the Labor Department. Berry said she has participated in settlement negotiations regarding fines just once during her eight-year tenure. She said N.C. OSHA officials don't consult with her about reducing fines.

Berry contended in a statement Friday that Meek "owes the people of North Carolina an apology."

"He has headed the most corrupt political party in our history and now to make such a claim is outrageous," she stated, referring to former House Speaker Jim Black, who was convicted of bribery.

Berry's Democratic opponent, Mary Fant Donnan, has also accepted some campaign donations from companies she would regulate as labor commissioner. Less than than 15 percent of the money she collected from individuals came from managers and executives of such companies.

Heads we're red ...

The New York Times says North Carolina is a toss-up state.

The newspaper had previously not included the state in its round-up of battlegrounds and had it leaning toward John McCain. That changed Friday.

"North Carolina, a state that is normally about as red as they get, is being moved into the toss-up column," the paper said. "[Barack] Obama has poured tons of money into the state and is spending a lot of time there, and Republicans are growing increasingly anxious that he might take it away from them."

Meanwhile, Congressional Quarterly also moved the state into its "No Clear Favorite" category Friday.

"At the outset, McCain had the edge -- the GOP has won 9 out of the past 10 contests -- but his comfort margin has evaporated," CQ said.

"Obama can count on a large African-American turnout."

The Cook Political Report, MSNBC's editors, Republican consultant Karl Rove, and editors of The Atlantic Monthly also consider North Carolina a toss-up.

The Rothenberg Political Report still says the state "Leans McCain," but the report's ratings have not been publicly updated since late September.

Doctors want more

Three North Carolina doctors called on John McCain to release his health records.

In a conference call organized by a liberal movie company Friday, Dr. Wolfgang Liedtke of Duke University, Dr. Don Richardson of Brevard and Dr. Susan Murphy of Boone said the Republican presidential candidate needs to share more information about his health.

In late May, about 20 reporters were allowed to look at McCain's records for about three hours.

But Liedtke, a clinical neurologist, said he still has questions about the severity of McCain's skin cancers and his vascular health, based on reports that the Arizona senator takes a daily aspirin to prevent blood clots and Ambien CR for insomnia.

"Somebody who is on Ambien -- that is ... someone you do not want to take the 3 a.m. call because you might not be able to wake them up," he said.

He said Obama should release all of his records as well, citing concern over the Illinois senator's history of smoking.

Brave New Films, which sponsored the call, has created videos and a Web site featuring the signatures of 2,872 doctors calling for the records to be released.

McCain in Wilmington

McCain is scheduled to speak Monday afternoon at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington. Doors open at noon at the college's Schwartz Center.

It will be McCain's first public appearance in the state since May and follows a visit to Greenville by his running mate, Sarah Palin.

Obama has made three visits to North Carolina in the past two weeks.

(By staff writer Ryan Teague Beckwith and Ames Alexander of The Charlotte Observer)

POLITICAL SCORECARD

NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICANS, who got some long-awaited attention from their presidential ticket when vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin came to Greenville last week for a rally.

GOV. MIKE EASLEY, who canceled an order for a new state jet after reporters asked about it in the midst of the economic crisis.

THE REV. WALTER LEAKE of Greenville, who injected partisan politics in his invocation before the Palin rally, accusing Democrats of lying and asking God to "close their mouths."