Kay Hagan Wins NC Democratic Senate Primary To Face Dole!

[tekisui]

U.S. Senate candidate Kay Hagan cruised to victory in the Democratic primary Tuesday and turned to the more daunting challenge of trying to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

Hagan, a state senator from Greensboro, immediately invited the support of voters who backed her chief rival, Chapel Hill entrepreneur Jim Neal. Neal had galvanized liberal activists in the party in part through his willingness to candidly discuss he was gay.

"I want to invite them to come on board, and I certainly need their support," said Hagan, who won 61 percent of the vote Tuesday with 53 percent of precincts reporting.

Neal, who carried 19 percent of the vote, had repeatedly dismissed Hagan as a political insider. Neal argued that he was the only candidate with the ability to defeat Dole, a national political figure who has worked in two presidential cabinets.

Neal's campaign did not immediately return a call Tuesday night seeking comment.

Dole, first elected in 2002, easily cruised to a win in the GOP primary to defeat challenger Pete Di Lauro of Weldon. With 55 percent of precincts reporting, Dole was winning 90 percent of the vote.

"I look forward to an ongoing dialogue with folks from Manteo to Murphy and asking them for the privilege of representing them in a second term," Dole said in a statement provided by her campaign.

Three other Democrats ran in the primary. Lumberton attorney Marcus Williams picked up 11 percent of the primary vote, while Lexington truck driver Duskin Lassiter and Moncure podiatrist Howard Staley each had 4 percent.

Hagan, 54, has been a state senator for almost a decade and has served as one of the chamber's chief budget writers for three terms. She previously worked at NationsBank after earning a law degree at Wake Forest University, but she left the job after the birth of her third child.

link: http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/2842649/

[saltpoint]

1. I hope Kay Hagan beats the living crap out of

Elizabeth Dole.

[tekisui]

2. I can't wait to vote Dole out.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

4. I think Obama will make that happen n/t

[Warpy]

6. Right, Dole is so awful that just getting beaten isn't good enough

That walking catastrophe needs to be HUMILIATED.

[seafan]

3. Hagan is the late Florida Governor Lawton Chiles' niece! Great news!!

Hagan, Dole cruise to US Senate primary wins, May 6, 2008

RALEIGH, N.C. — U.S. Senate candidate Kay Hagan cruised to victory in the Democratic primary Tuesday and turned to the more daunting challenge of trying to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

.....

Lawton Chiles



Lawton Chiles' Niece Runs for U.S. Senate, November 11, 2007

[Lex]

5. Kinda cool that Jim Neal, openly gay man, got 20% of the vote

here in NC.

I hope Hagan takes the fake-ass, botoxed smile off Liddy Dole's face and wins but good.

[tekisui]

7. I voted for Neal.

I liked them both, and am happy to support Hagan, now. I tipped to Neal for the very fact that I believe Dole will lose in November, with Obama at the top, and I wanted NC to elect the first openly gay Senator.

I had chills casting my vote for Neal.

Now, I am fully behind Hagan.

[Lex]

8. Oh, me too.

Jim Neal was a great candidate.

[JBear]

9. Jim Neal was impressive...

Saw him at a campaign stop in Raleigh several weeks ago and was quite impressed with him. Knowing Hagen is from Walkin Lawton's family helps, but Jim was my first choice.

Ready to defeat Dole!!

:bounce:

[jmowreader]

10. Kay has history on her side

North Carolina has a long track record of electing senators for single terms. And very few of our past one-term senators are even close to being as worthless as Liddy Dole.