Barr, the Libertarian presidential candidate, was the choice of 6 percent of likely voters surveyed recently by the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling. Barr drew more from presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, the choice of 43 percent of those surveyed, than from Democratic candidate Barack Obama, favored by 40 percent.

(In a matchup with Hillary Rodham Clinton, McCain received 39; Clinton, 34; and Barr, 6.)

"It's a long way until the election, but the early indication is that Bob Barr's presence on the ballot could be a good sign for whoever ends up as the Democratic nominee," said Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling.

The automated survey of 543 likely voters was done on May 28 and 29. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

Munger might hurt McCrory

Meanwhile, Mike Munger may be a spoiler in the governor's race.

Munger, the Libertarian gubernatorial candidate, may be pulling votes from Republican nominee Pat McCrory, according to the latest results by Public Policy Polling.

In an automated poll on May 28 and 29, Democratic nominee Beverly Perdue got 43 percent; McCrory, 39 percent; and Munger, 4 percent.

Munger, a political science professor at Duke University, drew the support of 15 percent of voters who did not identify as either Republicans or Democrats. McCrory was essentially tied with Perdue in a previous poll without Munger, who recently qualified for the ballot.

In the U.S. Senate race, Republican incumbent Elizabeth Dole was chosen by 47 percent of those surveyed. Her Democratic rival, state Sen. Kay Hagan was preferred by 39 percent.

Myrick challenges ICE

U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick of Charlotte wants immigration officials to clarify their position that illegal immigrants can be admitted to North Carolina's community colleges.

Myrick, who has made illegal immigration a cornerstone of her work in Congress, wrote to Julie Myers, head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying the federal law seems to disagree.

The statute, Myrick wrote, says North Carolina would have to pass a law specifically allowing undocumented residents to be admitted to the colleges.

Even so, Myrick continued, the colleges could not allow in-state tuition.

"ICE's stated position conflicts with the intent of federal law and undermines ICE's recent progress to enforce immigration laws," Myrick wrote.

Superdelegate guidelines

David Parker, an uncommitted North Carolina superdelegate, is interested in the final count of pledged delegates after the primaries today in Montana and South Dakota, the last in the country.

At that point, Parker said, he has a simple way to decide between presidential candidates Obama and Clinton:

"If Obama or whoever is ahead by 30 to 50 [pledged delegates], I feel like the superdelegates have a green light to vote as they see fit," Parker, a Statesville lawyer, told Dome.

He said a lead of more than 150 pledged delegates would be "a red light for superdelegates, and they should not do anything to thwart the will of the primaries and caucuses." If they lead is 50 to 150, "superdelegates should proceed with caution."

New lottery commissioner

Pam Medlin Whitaker of Greensboro has been appointed to the N.C. Lottery Commission. Gov. Mike Easley picked Whitaker, president of Key Resources, a Greensboro-based temp agency, to replace Linda Carlisle, a former Greensboro banker and office supply company owner.

Carlisle finished her term and chose not to seek another, said Pam Walker, a lottery spokeswoman.

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