Senate candidate Neal brings message to Elon [The Times-News]
At first glance, Democrat Jim Neal seems to be waging an uphill battle for the U.S. Senate.
In the May 6 primary, he must defeat state Sen. Kay Hagan and three challengers for the Democratic nomination. The state Democratic party has more or less endorsed Hagan as the nominee.
If Neal manages to clear that hurdle, he will face Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole in the general election on Nov. 4.
Hagan, from Greensboro, is finishing her fifth term in the state Senate; over the last three, she has cochaired the powerful Senate budget committee.
Dole has been a player on the national political stage for more than 30 years. Her resume includes jobs in five presidential administrations, including two cabinet posts: U.S. transportation secretary under president Ronald Reagan, and secretary of labor under President George H.W. Bush.
Neal is liberal, gay and making his first run for political office. Aside from former U.S. senators John Edwards and Terry Sanford, since 1980, North Carolina voters have tended to elect conservative Senate candidates like Dole.
But voters are ready for a change, Neal says. When it comes to his bid for the Democratic nomination, two polls show him in a tight race with Hagan, he adds.
Neal stressed the message of change to about 20 students at Elon University on Tuesday.
The visit is part of Neal’s grass roots campaign to reach out to voters who he says are disenchanted with politics as usual.
Read the full article at TheTimesNews.com
