News-Record.com

North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race has become one of the most closely watched in the nation as money from national parties and interest groups has flowed into the state.

Republican Elizabeth Dole is running for a second six-year term against Democratic state Sen. Kay Hagan. Dole has made the case that it’s important to keep a significant number of Republicans in the Senate so Democrats don’t have a “blank check” in running government.

The News & Record asked its Voterspeak panel of readers to suggest questions they thought were still unanswered in this final week of the campaign.

Dole’s responses:

Phyllis Davis, 64, Republican:

“How do your views differ from those of Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee for president?”

A: “We had a little difference on the immigration issue,” Dole said. Dole was part of a group of senators that blocked a comprehensive immigration reform bill that included a path to citizenship for those here illegally.

McCain sponsored that bill but has not come closer to Dole’s position, saying that the United States needs to secure its borders before tackling other pieces of the immigration puzzle.

Dole said she “has some differences” over the McCain-Feingold law that attempted to set limits on campaign spending. McCain is a long-time advocate for restricting the flow of money in political campaigns of all kinds, while Dole and other conservatives say the measure amounts to a restriction on free speech.

Mike Sigmon, 61, Republican:

“Explain in concrete terms your position on offshore drilling? What safety concerns do you have about preventing oil spills?”

A: “Well, I don’t think you’d want to set the rigs up right on the shore,” Dole said. “So certainly you’d want it out where it’s not seen, because tourism is a really important industry.”

Earlier in her Senate term, Dole opposed lifting the federal offshore drilling ban. She reversed that position this year and said she is convinced that drilling can be done safely.

“In terms of oil spills...the technology has gone so far they can drill a hole the size of a closet and reach out 5 miles. So I think there’s pretty much a consensus that the technology is such you really do not” have a concern.

Dole points to Hurricane Katrina, saying that there were minimal spills in the Gulf of Mexico from that storm. That fact is disputed by several reports, including one by the EPA that showed more than 1 million gallons was lost from one refinery.

Dole is now a member of the “Gang of 20,” a group of senators from both parties hoping to craft energy legislation that can pass the Congress.

Deonna Kelli Sayed, 34, Democrat:

“Looking back at your time in the Senate, what would you do differently?”

A: “I’m pleased with the way I voted on the issues the first term. There are things that occurred that should have been done differently, like the first part of the Iraq War where the administration made a lot of mistakes,” Dole said.

Dole said she is satisfied with the way she has voted.

“I try to make the best decision I can on what I think is right for North Carolina, it’s always North Carolina first,” she said.

Compiled by staff writer Mark Binker.