News-Record.com

There was a time when a guy could go get the wisdom teeth yanked out of his head and sleep for a good two days without all political hell breaking loose.

This is, apparently, not that time.

The frequent and persistent - occasionally oddly sourced - reports that state Sen. Kay Hagan is running for U.S. Senate despite an earlier decision has everyone in a tizzy.

I've also gotten at least one phone call and a couple of e-mails this morning from folks I would consider well connected saying that it's an iron-clad lock she's going to run.

So here's the deal: a great many people in the Democratic back channel at both the state and federal level expect Hagan to run. That would set up a primary against Jim Neal, who announced he was running about a month ago.

I still have this funny compulsion to confirm it with the lady herself before declaring it iron-clad fact, and I'll let you know as soon as I do.