NC-Sen

[Update: We're up to $335! You've responded amazingly. Can we get to $500? Just another $165. We can do it! If you can swing it, send Hagan $25 right now via the Expand the Map! ActBlue page.]

[Originally posted at Senate Guru.]

There has been much written about this race. Jim Neal is a successful businessman with progressive ideals who is willing to fight for what he believes. Kay Hagan is a corporate Democrat that is most famous in North Carolina for proposing a budget that cut Medicaid to the blind, elderly, and seniors while also cutting taxes for corporations and citizens making over $250,000. However, the DSCC has decided that Kay Hagan is their candidate. Take this little info that was slipped into a blog by well-respected North Carolina Journalist and Blogger Mark Binker:

Staff. Hagan and Neal have a blend of professional and volunteer staff that organize meet-and-greets, run the website, spin reporters, network, fundraise and do all the grunt work of a campaign...Hagan is rolling with DSCC-vetted staffers and Neal has hired an outside consultant with experience running "outsider" campaigns.

The DSCC has made their choice, but after the break I want to further introduce you to Kay Hagan and why YOU need to back the Ned Lamont of 2008, the Jon Tester of 2008 - Jim Neal.

I get so sick of the niceties when it comes to campaign lies. They aren't distortions, they are lies. The video after the break is Kay Hagan's first commercial, which in addition to being a boring biographical commercial is also spreading the lie that she "brought change, raising the minimum wage". Kay Hagan is one three Senators that controls the purse strings in North Carolina, the same purse strings that sought to cut Medicaid services to the blind and elderly while bringing shockingly high tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations. With that control Kay Hagan sought to cripple the benefits of the minimum wage increase through a Republican tactic that was pioneered by....are you ready for this.....Elizabeth Dole.

If you want a corporate Democrat that will stand up for profits over people, then by all means support the status quo and support Kay Hagan. But, if you want a progressive Democrat to win in North Carolina, then it is up to you to support Jim Neal.

In the race to replace Elizabeth Dole (R-Kansas D.C.-NC)The North Carolina Senate race pits an entrenched corporate Democrat who is right about some of the things some of the times versus a Progressive, outsider Democrat running on grassroots/netroots support who is right on the issues. An inspirational, progressive, well-spoken, outsider with a proven record of raising funds for other Democrats steps up to the plate - Jim Neal. Jim Neal is the outsider who is relying on our support because he won't get it from the DSCC. During a live-blog at BlueNC Jim is asked whether he is gay and responds that he is; Jim's phone calls no longer get answered, the DSCC doesn't include him on their North Carolina Senate news feed; and, they recruit Kay Hagan to run for the seat.

Who is Kay Hagan?

Originally posted at the Great Orange Satan.

[cross-posted on dailykos at and on my campaign blog]

We’ve been talking a lot about our US Senate campaign being a choice between politics as usual and speaking truth to power.

I was surprised and frankly shocked while reading Greensboro’s Yes Weekly article about State Senator Kay Hagan.

Kay points to Senate Bill 3 (SB 3) as an example of how “we do things right in Raleigh.” The legislation adopted by the state senate last year gives away the store to Duke Energy, one of the top contributors to Kay’s state senate campaigns .

You may not know about SB 3. And the problem is I don’t think you’re supposed to. The Raleigh News-Observer says SB 3 was “an insiders' deal from the get-go,” passed with “virtually nonexistent” public debate and no “serious financial analysis of its total impact on consumers.” http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/martinez/story/626147.html

Come hit the quarter-mile with Jim Neal at this exciting event - Jim will meet voters, answer question, and then take to the racetrack with some celebrity politician guests! Join Jim at the NASCAR SpeedPark at Concord Mills for an evening of politics, Q&A, and racing! Who knows, a celebrity driver from the world of politics might just show up!

On Saturday, March 22,2008 the Jones County Voter League will be hosting a candidate forum from 12.00 noon until 3.00 PM at the Jones County Civic Center, Hwy 58 between Pollocksville and Trenton.
A free lunch will be served. [ BBQ, BBQ turkey, fried fish]
Come and have a chance to meet and listen to many statewide candidates.

Attending

Congressman Butterfield
Sec. of State Elaine Marshall
Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr.June Atkinson
Rep. Van Braxton
Rep. Russel Tucker
Mr. Bob Eaves, Lt. Gov Bev Purdue's husband, speaking on her behalf.
Jim Neal, candidate for US Senate
Beth Wood, candidate for auditor
Robin Anderson, candidate for labor commissioner
Wayne Goodwin, candidate for insurance commissioner
Ronnie Ansley, candidate for ag. commissioner

Since starting his campaign for the United States Senate, Jim Neal has been learning from voters all over North Carolina by visiting churches, Democratic Party organizations, twenty colleges, and more than twice as many counties. He’s had dinner with state troopers at Bill’s truck stop on I-85, been stuck in traffic in Charlotte, and he can’t stop drinking sweet tea from Bojangles’. His grassroots campaign is reaching out to North Carolina like no Democrat ever has before, but he needs your help to win the May 6th primary.

Come join Jim's campaign staff, friends, donors, volunteers, and supporters as we walk with Jim to the Board of Elections to file.

We're meeting at Café Helios, 413 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, 27603 at 11:45 a.m. Thursday. There is ample parking for all. We will then join Jim as he becomes an official candidate for the United States Senate in North Carolina!

Who: You, Jim Neal, and the Jim Neal for Senate Team

What: Jim Neal Filing

Where: Café Helios, 413 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, 27603

When: 11:45 a.m., Thursday, February 28th