Unknown Dem steps up to challenge Sen Dole in NC

RALEIGH, N.C. - Someone has finally gotten into the race to challenge U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole next year, as a Chapel Hill corporate financial adviser announced Thursday he would run for the Democratic nomination.
Jim Neal, a fundraiser for 2004 presidential candidates who has never run for public office, said he has formed an exploratory committee and has been out raising money. He filed his statement of candidacy with the U.S. Senate on Thursday afternoon, according to a spokeswoman.

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Neal, 50, divorced with two sons, had a career in investment banking before becoming head of The Agema Group, a so-called financial advisory "boutique" that works with small- and medium-sized companies.

During the 2004 elections, Neal raised money for Democratic presidential hopeful Wesley Clark and later party nominee John Kerry. He said he also raised money for 2004 U.S. Senate candidate Erskine Bowles.

http://www.newsobserver.com/1565/story/725915.html

NC hasn't been able to come up with a known Dem willing to take on Liddy Dole. Both people mentioned in this article as considering the run--Rep. Grier Martin of Raleigh and Sen. Kay Hagan of Greensboro--have since declined to run.

Sorry if this is a duplicate post. I ran a search and didn't come up with anything, even though this announcement was made last week. Maybe it got lost in the Gore/Nobel Peace prize news.