• 6th Congressional District Democratic contender Laura Fjeld is on the air with a commercial hitting broadcast and cable outlets in Greensboro and cable in the Triangle.

• Debate day! (Tomorrow is, too!) Time Warner Cable News and McClatchy Newspapers are sponsoring the 7 p.m. contest featuring Republican U.S. Senate candidates Greg Brannon, Heather Grant, Mark Harris, and Thom Tillis. Time Warner Cable subscribers can watch the debate on Channel 14; everyone else can view a livestream here.

• The left-wing publication Mother Jones unearths audio and transcripts of a 2012 appearance by Brannon on the Bill LuMaye Show (TalkRadio 850AM) in which the now-Senate candidate offered somewhat evasive answers to questions from callers asking about 9/11 conspiracies.

• The Washington Post notes the challenges facing incumbent Sen Kay Hagan and other Democrats in motivating voters to support them with President Obama not on the ballot.

• First-term Rep. Robert Pittenger, R-9th, who touts his ability to work with Democrats when needed, faces a long-shot primary challenge from Tea Party favorite Mike Steinberg. Steinberg and Pittenger also contested the 12-man 2012 primary for the district.