Congressional Quarterly

Congressional Quarterly has a post up outlining the 2010 Senate races that rates the challenge to incumbent Richard Burr as "serious" even if there isn't a top tier challenger in the race. That's not a criticism of Kenneth Lewis. It doesn't mean he isn't a good choice or won't make a good candidate. He's simply a political unknown...for now.

From CQ:

NORTH CAROLINA: Democrats stand a chance of picking up the state’s other Senate seat if they can find a solid challenger to Richard M. Burr , who in 2004 succeeded Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards. Obama narrowly won the state last year, and Democrat Kay Hagan unseated Republican incumbent Elizabeth Dole. Burr might have gained running room when popular state Attorney General Roy Cooper announced in May that he would not run for the seat; Democratic recruiters are still looking for a top-tier candidate.

Apparently, any Republican with a pulse is a potential candidate for the 8th District no matter how unlikely the candidacy. CQ is pushing the rumor that Pat McCrory is a potential candidate for a run against Larry Kissell. I guess they had to have something to talk about.

Pat McCrory has no trouble promoting Pat McCrory, so traveling to Raleigh (not in the 8th) to bash available, affordable health care is right up his alley. However, he isn't stupid enough to run and lose in the 8th and think that after two very visible losses he will have much of a shot at running and winning again.

Congressional Quarterly has one of its first lists of Congressional race rankings for this cycle, and Larry Kissell's race for NC-08 has a very favorable "No Clear Favorite" ranking.

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