Such is the nature of the Republican U.S. Senate primary that Elizabeth Dole hasn't scheduled a single public stump speech in the past week -- even though she has been on a break from her work in Congress.

Dole is virtually assured of winning the Republican nomination for the seat she has held since 2002, with only a former New York City police officer from Halifax County running against her.

Dole, 71, of Salisbury, is seeking her second term in the U.S. Senate. She has held two Cabinet positions under Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush. She also is the former head of the American Red Cross.

She faces Pete Di Lauro, 60, who unsuccessfully ran for Weldon town commissioner in November. In the past, he also ran for governor of New Jersey and sheriff of a New Jersey county.

In the past year, Dole has stepped up her visits to North Carolina, speaking at Rotary clubs, touring companies and handing out grant checks to small government agencies. She also has made immigration enforcement a key issue, organizing sheriffs around the state into a test program with federal immigration agents to focus on deportation.

But she undoubtedly has her eye on November, when she faces the winner of the Democratic primary between state Sen. Kay Hagan of Greensboro, investment banker Jim Neal of Chapel Hill and three lesser-known candidates.

Dole declined an interview request for this report.

Her chief strategist, Mark Stephens, said the campaign doesn't expect a strong primary challenge.

"Right now, we're focused on building the kind of campaign that can win in November," Stephens said. "You use these early months to build a strong foundation."

To that end, Dole spent the past week of the Easter congressional recess raising money. As of December, Dole had raised $7.7 million for her re-election.

Di Lauro has raised nothing.

Di Lauro said he is running because he wants to change how Washington works. He believes that although Dole is in her first term in the Senate, she has been working too long in Washington, whether in GOP presidential Cabinets or at the side of her husband, former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas. He said it's time for change.

He thinks the Iraq war should be ended, that more should be done to enforce immigration laws, that the economy depends too much on oil and that lawyers have too much power in the legislative system.

"She's been a career politician for 40 years," Di Lauro said. "Give someone else a chance."

Dole heads into the race with approval ratings below 50 percent. February polls from Elon University and Public Policy Polling of Raleigh put her approval at about 42 percent.

Her opponents haven't been able to capitalize on any perceived weakness, though.

The latest poll from Public Policy Polling, released Wednesday, shows Dole leading Di Lauro by 80 percent to 13 percent.

Linda Daves, chairwoman of the N.C. Republican Party, said primary voters could be casting ballots on a variety of issues. "Immigration, we have found in North Carolina, is a very, very big issue," Daves said.

Though Di Lauro is not well known, he can still expect some votes, she said. "Any time you put your name on the ballot, you're almost sure to get votes."