State Sen. Kay Hagan said Tuesday she will join the race to challenge U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole next year, three weeks after saying she wouldn't run and a week after the only other Democrat in the race said he is gay.
With national polls showing independent voters turning away from President Barack Obama and Democrats and a state economy that hasn't yet turned the corner, GOP activists are feeling good about their Election Day prospects.
According to public records, most of the outside money has gone to the US Senate race between Republican incumbent Elizabeth Dole and Democratic challenger Kay Hagan.