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Continuing from yesterday's post, here's more audio from my interview with U.S. Senate candidate Jim Neal.

• * Despite growing up in Greensboro, Neal has lived outside the state for more than 25 years of his adult live, returning in 2006. I asked him if, given that absence, he was someone who understood North Carolina's issues and could represent the state in the Senate. This was his answer.

• * Sen. Dole has been a close ally of the Bush administration. I asked Neal about that and this was his answer.

• * A reader-submitted question: Which member of the U.S. Senate would you want to model your career after? In other words, which Senator do you admire and why? Neal explains why his pick is LBJ.

More to come.

Update: Dome reports on a poll that shows Neal behind Dole by 15 points or so. That's about where Sen. Hagan has been and, quite frankly, where anyone who is not a statewide figure is going to start. Basically, that poll shows there are 32 percent of the people in this state who will vote against Dole no matter what. The real question is whether any of the 47 percent in Dole's camp would defect should the right opponent come along?

Update: More audio clips.

• * A former investment banker with an MBA from the University of Chicago, Neal is running as a fairly progressive or liberal candidate. He explains how one became the other.
• * Neal on Iraq.
• * Neal said he believed government had a role in ensuring everyone has health insurance, but doesn't offer a specific plan. Click to hear more on the topic.