< Previous page

"The election will be about contrasts," Neal said. "The election is not about a state senator who is a Democrat running against a Republican senator who [is] saying basically the same thing. That is one of the critical differences between us."

Mainstream Democrat

Hagan, 54, is well within the Democratic Party's centrist, pro-business mainstream.

A former ballet dancer, banker and lawyer, she rose in the male-dominated state legislature to become co-chairwoman of the powerful Senate budget committee. Hagan is a seasoned political veteran, the niece of former Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles and the former Guilford County chairwoman of Gov. Jim Hunt's campaigns. Her campaign brochure includes praise from Easley. She has been endorsed by the N.C. Association of Educators, the state's major teachers advocacy group.

One of her favorite words is "pragmatic." She touts her ability to get things done, to move legislation and to work with lawmakers of different stripes and parties. She says she wants to take her legislative experience with balancing budgets and improving education and health care to Washington.

"I really think Washington keeps coming up short, and we in North Carolina do things the right way," Hagan said.

Hagan has some crossover appeal to voters such as Jim Jones, 72, a retired Winston-Salem city worker. Jones says that in 2004 he put up 10,000 yard signs for Republican Richard Burr, now Dole's colleague in the U.S. Senate. But Jones is disenchanted with Dole and switched to the Democratic Party, in part to help Hagan.

"I think she [Hagan] has the best chance of winning," said Jones. "You have to have someone who can raise $15 million to $20 million to compete."

Hagan has raised $562,000, according to campaign finance reports, while Neal has raised $214,000 including $120,000 he loaned his campaign. Neal said he cannot afford to loan his campaign any additional money. Those figures pale in comparison to the $4.8 million that Dole had raised by the end of last year.

A nonpolitical voice

Although Neal, a former junior tennis star, was reared in Greensboro, he has lived much of his adult life in New York, Los Angeles and elsewhere as he made a career in finance. He moved back to North Carolina in 2006.

While this is his first time as a candidate, he is not a political novice. He helped raise money for the U.S. Senate campaign of Erskine Bowles and the presidential efforts of Wesley Clark and John Kerry.

Neal appears to be making more campaign appearances than Hagan. In late February, he said he had logged 2,500 miles driving to events around the state. He has hired David Salie, who headed former presidential candidate Howard Dean's house party program, to hold a series of house parties for his campaign.

As the state's first openly gay Senate candidate, Neal has been able to tap into gay fundraising networks.

There has been a sharp learning curve for Neal, who has had to introduce himself to many Tar Heel political leaders. But his animation and passion on the campaign trail -- and his stressing national issues more than Hagan -- are picking up the support of some activists.

"I know he doesn't have political experience, but I like the idea of a fresh face," said Anne Wilson, 65, a retired Winston-Salem schoolteacher who is backing Neal.

But his decision to run so soon after returning to North Carolina does not sit well with some voters. It reminds them of Dole, who was long absent from the state before winning her Senate seat in 2002.

Among them is Carie Vickery, 21, the president of the Elon [University] Law School Democrats, who is supporting Hagan.

"I think it would be a huge benefit to have someone from North Carolina," Vickery said, "not just moving back to get elected."

(Researcher David Raynor contributed to this story.)

< Previous page

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.