Former Sen. John Edwards has gone so anti-establishment that he's planning to skip the annual New Hampshire Democrats' pre-primary dinner tonight in Milford, N.H.

Ray Buckley, head of the New Hampshire Democratic party, said he heard this week that Edwards had given his regrets on the invitation. Instead, Edwards plans to be at an event in Portsmouth.

Buckley's still holding out hope.

"Candidates have said that before, and they've come," Buckley said Thursday, before the results were in from Iowa. "They said they couldn't make it. I said we'd still certainly welcome him and hope he comes by."

If Edwards does skip the event, he'll pass up the chance to give a 10-minute speech to 3,000 Democrats paying $100 to $1,000 a plate for the dinner. Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama plan to be there, Buckley said.

The dinner, begun in 1959 with a speech from John F. Kennedy, is the state party's biggest annual fundraiser.

"Since 1959, we've hosted every candidate in the pre-primary dinner," Buckley said, "and I have faith we will this time as well."

Search on for UNCG leader

The search begins today for the next chancellor of UNC-Greensboro.

UNC President Erskine Bowles will charge a search committee with the task of identifying candidates to succeed Chancellor Pat Sullivan, who announced in December that she would retire July 31.

Sullivan, who has led UNCG since 1995, is the senior chancellor in the UNC system. She was the first female chancellor at UNCG and has overseen a surge of growth at the Greensboro university, which now has 17,000 students.

This year, Bowles will add at least three new chancellors to his leadership team at the 17-campus UNC system. Searches are now under way for leaders at Fayetteville State University and UNC-Chapel Hill.

Democrat will leave House

Rep. Pete Cunningham is retiring from the state House.

The Charlotte Democrat, who is 78, said Thursday that he is retiring because of health concerns. He had heart surgery in 2005.

"My doctor said I need to slow it down some," he said. "I think it's time for me to back off a little bit. I'm going to try resting for a while and then we'll see."

Cunningham first ran for office in 1986, but he came to power along with now-disgraced House Speaker Jim Black, who appointed him to all House committees, giving him the ability to make key swing votes.

Cunningham's retirement was effective Dec. 31. Democrats in Mecklenburg County will choose a successor.

Sigmon challenges McHenry

Lance Sigmon will run against U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry.

In a Christmas video message on his Web site, the retired Air Force officer says he will challenge McHenry in the Republican primary.

"I served my country for 21 years in the Air Force and would be privileged to serve again in Congress," he says.

Sigmon said he has been concerned about the "respect and attention" the district has received.

Graham wants lower gas tax

Republican candidate for governor Bill Graham is repeating his call to lower the state gas tax.

Graham, a Salisbury lawyer who previously pushed for a cap on the tax, said in a statement Thursday that the tax is still too high.

"Our state government has failed the taxpayer; we pay one of the highest gas taxes in the nation, yet our roads are ranked among the worst. We pay more taxes than any state in the Southeast, yet we have the most congested roads," Graham said in a statement.

The tax cannot rise higher than 30.15 cents per gallon. The N.C. Department of Revenue would have set the rate at 33.68 cents without the cap. The tax is the state's primary source of paying for road improvements and other transportation needs. The tax is one of the highest in the nation.

Graham thinks that through reform of the Department of Transportation and a revision of the highway funding formula, the state can meet its transportation needs with a lower gas tax.