• Brad Woodhouse, the liberal member of the Woodhouse brothers, is taking the helm of Correct the Record, a super PAC founded by David Brock that will fend off criticism of Hillary Clinton. Brad and Raleigh-resident Dallas (a conservative activist and political consultant) are subjects of a recent documentary about their family feud.
• In what is being billed as not a campaign speech, on Saturday Attorney General Roy Cooper will address Democrats in the 8th Congressional District. Cooper is expected to challenge incumbent GOP Gov. Pat McCrory in 2016.
• National Democrats are claiming success in recruiting high-profile candidates to challenge Republicans next year for U.S. Senate seats. And while this Associated Press story notes that former Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan is being wooed relentlessly to challenge incumbent Richard Burr, Hagan has given no indication she wants to run. Moreover, the story doesn’t list North Carolina as a potential battleground, suggesting Burr enters the campaign in good shape.
• Meantime, The Hill lists North Carolina as one of the 10 “fiercest” Senate races in the 2016 cycle, but hedges that by suggesting it would be hot only if Hagan runs.
• An extensive Wall Street Journal profile of 10th District U.S. Rep. Patrick Henry, the House Republican deputy whip, chronicles his progression from “firebrand” to dealmaker.
• Even though the state forecasts a $400 million budget surplus for the coming fiscal year, House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, says McCrory’s proposal to place two $1.5 billion infrastructure bonds on a special November ballot should wait until the 2016 presidential primary ballot, which could take place March 8.
