Monday, May 19, 2008

Barbara Barrett, Benjamin Niolet, Michael Biesecker and Lynn Bonner

The News & Observer

Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole must have been watching the polls in recent days, because she predicts a hard-fought race to keep her seat next fall.

In her first blog post on her new election site, Dole says she expects to have to defend her record against attacks.

“Modern campaigns have become a contact sport, so please anticipate that this campaign — and yours truly — will come under attack,” Dole writes. “There will be careless attacks — personal attacks — votes and issues taken out of context –maybe even outright falsehoods.”

Recent polls show Dole just a few points ahead of Democratic challenger Kay Hagan, a state senator from Greensboro. National pundits are beginning to wonder whether Dole, who was in Raleigh on Sunday to give the commencement speech at the St. Mary’s School graduation ceremony, could be in trouble next fall.

Dole’s new campaign Web site, www.elizabethdole.org, follows the model of those of many of the presidential candidates, offering ways for readers to interact with the campaign, register to vote and make donations online.