A statewide survey Sunday and Monday by the Civitas Institute found that the Arizona senator enjoys a comfortable lead among Republicans in North Carolina.

The poll of 800 registered voters found that McCain was supported by 32 percent of those surveyed. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was a distant second, with 16 percent.

Rounding out the top four were former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, with 12 percent, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, with 10 percent.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.

Meanwhile, Public Policy Polling surveyed likely general election voters about how presidential candidates would fare in North Carolina.

The organization concluded that McCain would "be the strongest nominee for president in North Carolina" after the poll results showed that McCain led in matchups with all three Democratic candidates -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.

Senate race: Dole, but ...

The survey by Public Policy Polling found that North Carolina voters are torn about the job U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole is doing.

But the poll also found that they are not too keen on the Democrats who want to take her seat in the Senate.

The survey on Monday of 762 likely general election voters found that 44 percent approve of the way Dole is handling her job, while 33 percent disapprove. The rest were not sure.

But Dole, a Salisbury Republican, came out ahead in potential head-to-head matchups with Democratic candidates Kay Hagan, a state senator from Greensboro, and Jim Neal, a Chapel Hill investment banker.

The poll showed Dole with 48 percent and Hagan with 35 percent if they faced each other. It showed Dole with 49 percent and Neal with 30 percent if they faced each other.

The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.

The Civitas Institute poll had similar results when it asked about possible Senate matchups:

Dole 46 percent, Hagan 29 percent.

Dole 47 percent, Neal 27 percent.

Shanahan wants GOP post

Kieran Shanahan is seeking a post on the Republican National Committee.

The Raleigh lawyer hopes to replace former state Rep. Ed McMahan, who stepped down last week to raise money for Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory's bid for the GOP gubernatorial nomination.

Shanahan is a former member of the Raleigh City Council, where he served four terms, and former federal prosecutor. He currently serves as chairman of the N.C. Property Rights Coalition, but he said he will step down if he is selected for the national committee.

"We are at a critical time in the history of our nation, and the Republican Party must lead the fight to elect qualified, capable, common-sense conservatives to public office at all levels," he said in a statement.

North Carolina has three representatives on the national committee.

NARAL endorsements

NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina has announced its endorsements.

The abortion-rights group's political action committee backs Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson, state Reps. Angela Bryant of Rocky Mount and Tricia Cotham of Charlotte and state Sen. Ellie Kinnaird of Carrboro.

All four face primary opponents and have a history of supporting NARAL's legislative goals.

Executive Director Melissa Reed noted that the 2008 elections are the 35th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.

"NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina plans to lead the way in building a pro-choice voting block to elect pro-choice leaders who will stand up for women's freedom and privacy," she said in a statement.

Martin backs McCrory, Orr

Former Gov. Jim Martin has endorsed Pat McCrory and Bob Orr for the Republican nomination for governor.

Martin said he is backing both the longtime Charlotte mayor and the former Supreme Court justice.

"They're both long-term friends," Martin told The Charlotte Observer.

At McCrory's kickoff last week, former Gov. Jim Holshouser endorsed McCrory and said Martin did as well. In an interview, McCrory confirmed the endorsements but did not mention Orr.

Martin knows McCrory through civic work in Charlotte, while Orr served as Martin's driver in the 1984 gubernatorial election.

For good measure, Martin added that he also likes Republican candidates Bill Graham and Fred Smith and will endorse whoever wins the GOP primary.

(David Ingram of The Charlotte Observer contributed to this report.)

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