Hagan: I'm thinking about it
From a story scheduled for tomorrow's paper:
State Sen. Kay Hagan said Tuesday she is "looking into" a run for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Elizabeth Dole .The Greensboro Democrat's name has been raised frequently by political analysts over the past nine months as a potential contender. However, this is the first time Hagan herself has directly addressed the possibility of challenging Dole, who faces re-election in 2008.
Until now, Hagan has been circumspect in talking about a potential run, saying during this year's legislative term that she was focused on completing the state budget.
Tuesday, Hagan said Dole is "vulnerable" to a challenge.
"I guarantee you, I wouldn't be thinking about this if I didn't think she was," Hagan said. "She's definitely vulnerable. I don't think she's in North Carolina very much and I couldn't tell you a thing she's done for North Carolina."
Hagan said that she would make a final decision on whether to run "sooner rather than later."
She joins at least two other Democrats in considering a run versus North Carolina's senior senator. Rep. Grier Martin, a Wake County legislator, and Forsyth County Commissioner Ted Kaplan, a former state Senator, also have expressed interest publicly.
Martin recently attracted noticed from political insiders when he met with officials who run the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, a conduit for national money and support.