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• Gov. Pat McCrory fills a second vacancy on the state Supreme Court within 72 hours. Monday, he picked Associate Justice Mark Martin (who’s running for chief justice) to complete the term of Chief Justice Sarah Parker, who must retire at the end of August. Wednesday, McCrory chose Appeals Court Judge Bob Hunter (who’s running for Martin’s seat on the high court) to complete Martin’s term. Hunter, a Republican, will face fellow Appeals Court Judge Sam J. “Jimmy” Ervin IV in the general election.

• Another day, another Senate poll. This one, from Suffolk University and USA Today, shows incumbent Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan with a 45-43 lead over Republican House Speaker Thom Tillis. Libertarian Sean Haugh gets 5 percent.

• Sen Rand Paul, R-Ky., will attend a GOP fundraiser next week in Charlotte to boost Tillis’ campaign.

• The Associated Press notes the importance of Hagan and other female candidates (not to mention their donors) to Democrats’ efforts to maintain control of the U.S. Senate, reporting that Emily’s List — which runs PACs that give to the campaigns of women who support abortion rights — has provided $46 million in the current election cycle, more money than any other political group.

• U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger, R-9th District, may be unopposed in the November election, but he has scheduled a series of town hall meetings in the district.