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The Democratic presidential primary has overshadowed everything else on the ballot, in both media attention and, best I can tell, voter interest. No wonder. For the first time in years, North Carolina matters in the presidential race. Obama and Clinton x 3 -- Hillary, Bill and Chelsea -- have campaigned up and down Interstate 40/85 for weeks.

Consequently, elections offices have welcomed a flood of people registering to vote. But I fear the first-timers will touch the button for their choice for president and be dazed and confused by the multitude of other races and issues.

And many of those races and issues are vitally important to the Piedmont Triad.

You can still catch up.

In both the newspaper and online, we began publishing overviews of many statewide and local races a few weeks ago. Our strategy was simple, according to government editor Eddie Wooten.

"We have tried to present information to our readers that would be helpful as they determine which candidates they prefer," he told me. "We have tried to provide coverage of the races that our readers can’t get anywhere else. And then at times, we have covered some stories that we found to be the most interesting."

If you missed the stories in the newspaper, we have collected everything we have published about the election at News-Record.com so that you can browse it at your convenience. Click on the Decision 2008 logo.

In addition, we have posted information almost daily since December at our election blog. There you can find campaign news, notes, audio and video. For instance, you can listen to Rep. Laura Wiley and George Ragsdale, her challenger in the Republican primary, discuss the issues during their interview last week with the newspaper’s editorial board. Or you can watch the N.C. GOP ad that is getting national headlines for the way it slams Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue and Treasurer Richard Moore.

Many of the entries were either not published in the newspaper -- we haven't figured out how to publish audio or video on newsprint yet -- or were published online first. My guess is that the information there might help you sort through your voting choices.

The blog is also a good place to discuss politics with our reporters and other readers.

The editorial board began making endorsements last weekend when it took on the bonds. Today on page H2, the newspaper makes its recommendation on the Senate race. Other endorsements follow this week.

As an aside, neither I nor any of the reporters participate in the endorsement process. That is strictly the responsibility of the publisher and the editorial writers.

I mention that because our news reporting is occasionally accused of being biased. Because we are in the political season, we asked our Online Reader Panel last week this question: "Do you think the News & Record covers politics in a fair manner?"

Of the 128 people who responded, 82 people answered yes and 28 said no. The remaining 18 respondents qualified their answer in some way.

Regardless of whether you agree or disagree, I encourage you to join the Reader Panel. Every week or two, we will e-mail you some questions about news and advertising. What you tell us in response helps us improve. In return, you will be eligible for free stuff. Sign up by going to News-Record.com and clicking on "Join our Readers' panel" at the bottom of the page.

Being an informed voter takes time and effort. Campaigning continues in earnest this week. We will be on it.