Dole feels the heat from Hagan's challenge

The Beltway is buzzing about the U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Elizabeth Dole and her Democratic opponent, Kay Hagan.

Hagan, a state senator, met with Washington reporters and bloggers last week in an effort to raise her profile. Her chat with the Washington Post's Chris Cillizza bumped her up a notch to No. 8 in the competitive rankings on his blog, The Fix:

"Dole (R) knows she is in for a very tough race against state Sen. Kay Hagan (D). Witness her decision to begin running ads in recent days that tout her ability to deliver for the state -- ads that never make mention of her party affiliation or President George W. Bush."

Then the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee called the race "competitive."

Sen. John Ensign listed it as among the 10 most competitive races in the country.

Meanwhile, Dole has opened a wider lead in the polls. In a recent survey by Rasmussen Reports, Dole got 53 percent while Hagan got 39 percent.

The results are almost identical to a survey by the same pollster two months ago, but they show a decline from Hagan's post-primary bump that brought her almost even.

By any other name ...

They are no longer mere trial lawyers. They are now "advocates for justice."

No, we're not talking about the latest summer superhero flick.

The N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers announced Sunday that it is changing its name. From now on, the organization will be known as the "N.C. Advocates for Justice."

"N.C. Advocates for Justice better reflects exactly what we do on a day-to-day basis," said Joe Cheshire, president of the organization. "It does a better job of articulating what this organization is all about -- fighting for justice and protecting people's rights."

Stam's budget recusal

The House's $21.3 billion state budget proposal drew a majority of support from Republicans. But their leader took a pass, citing a potential conflict of interest.

House Minority Leader Paul Stam, an Apex Republican, received an excuse from voting on the budget bill. His wife, her relatives and some of his clients have property that could be in the path of the 18-mile Triangle Expressway, a planned toll road in western Wake County.

The state budget proposal includes $25 million in annual funding for the expressway.

Stam was allowed to debate and vote on unrelated amendments to the budget proposal.

Keep on truckin'

State Sen. David Hoyle (D-Gastonia) ribbed Sen. Clark Jenkins at a meeting last week of the Senate Finance Committee, waving a cartoon by The News & Observer's Dwane Powell that lampooned legislation close to Jenkins' heart.

But Jenkins got the last laugh.

The committee was about to approve a bill, sponsored by the Edgecombe County Democrat, to allow longer trucks and wider boats on state highways.

"A little cartoon about our dear friend, Senator Jenkins," Hoyle said. "He'd be glad to sign it for you any time and frame it."

Jenkins defended his bill against safety concerns expressed by the Highway Patrol and reported in the N&O. After the committee endorsed his bill, Jenkins took the microphone one more time.

"If someone would like for me to enter on the floor of the Senate an amendment restricting The News & Observer from using 53-foot trailers to deliver their product to downtown Raleigh, I'd be glad to do so," he said to applause and laughter in the meeting room. "Because they're doing it now."

Later, Jenkins said someone with "an interest in this bill" visited The N&O in downtown Raleigh and spotted a 53-foot-long tractor-trailer making a delivery.

Jim Puryear, N&O vice president for circulation, said The N&O has no trucks more than 48 feet long.

"We can't confirm whether somebody brought us something on a truck that was longer than 48 feet," he said. "If it was, it wasn't a News & Observer truck."