Dispatches from the campaign trail, February 17, 2014

• Americans for Prosperity’s latest ad takes a shot a Sen. Kay Hagan for her support of Obamacare.

http://youtu.be/tESmeZBXKb0

• On the Republican side of the Senate race, Democratic firm Public Policy Polling finds that House Speaker Thom Tillis, R-Mecklenburg, has not separated himself from his primary rivals. Tills won support of 20 percent of the respondents; Heather Grant and Greg Brannon each came in at 13 percent, Ted Alexander at 10 percent, and Mark Harris at 8 percent.

• Meantime, testimony ended Friday in the civil trial alleging that Brannon and a former business partner defrauded investors in a tech start-up company. The case is before the jury.

• U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., will make fundraising stops today in Wilmington and Duplin County supporting former state Sen. David Rouzer’s campaign for the 7th Congressional District nomination.

• The Clay Aiken campaign for the 2nd Congressional District Democratic nomination has reported $100,000 in contributions since the “American Idol” runner-up announced his entry into the race.