Williams, a 54-year-old Lumberton lawyer, was elected president of the student body at Lumberton High School, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and of his law school class at the University of Minnesota.

Williams has not had the same success, though, when he has sought full-time political posts in North Carolina. He sought the Democratic nomination for governor in 1992, losing to Jim Hunt. He twice ran for a seat on the N.C. Court of Appeals and once for the seat held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre.

But Williams figures that gives him an advantage. His past campaigns, he said, will help him in the Senate race because he knows so many people across the state.

"I know the networks," Williams said. "I can go back to my Rolodex."

Williams said he is offering an alternative voice for primary voters who are looking for a U.S. Senate candidate not tied to the Democratic establishment.

Williams said that unlike his two better-financed opponents, Kay Hagan and Jim Neal, he is running a grass-roots, low-budget campaign not connected to state or national leaders.

"The two leading Democratic candidates are more of the same old story," Williams said. "One [Hagan], who had to be cajoled into running, is the hand-picked nominee of the old guard, power elite of the party. The other [Neal] is the darling of the high-financed, special-interest groups. I believe North Carolina can do much better."

Williams said he will push for improvements in education, health care and the environment. He is opposed to the Iraq war.

As an African-American, Williams could be helped by a strong turnout in the black community on behalf of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Williams spent much of his career as a legal aid lawyer, rising to become the group's regional director in southeastern North Carolina. Since moving back to Lumberton to take care of aging parents, Williams has been in private practice.

Williams said he plans to campaign part time for the Senate, while continuing his law practice.