Republicans running largest slate of candidates in years

Republican candidates are running with as full a primary ballot as the party has listed in years.

No national Republican figures appeared in Craven County on the eve of today's primary, but a quieter campaign continued for Republican races, including still active presidential campaigns for Ron Paul and Alan Keyes, although nomination appears to be assured for John McCain.

The ballot lists four presidential contenders, two for the U.S. Senate seat, a contest for U.S. Congress District 3, five challengers for a party nomination for North Carolina governor, four for lieutenant governor, three for state superintendent of public instruction, and a pair for N.C. House District 3.

Norman Sanderson was driving alone through Havelock on Monday morning with the his green Chevy pickup bed filled with signs for his candidacy for the N.C. Republican House District 3 race. His automated calls to about 8,000 registered Republicans were done in an effort to get out the vote.

Renee Sisk, the Craven County commissioner who is also bidding for the Republican nomination for that House seat, said she also delivered signs to precinct workers on Monday. She made last-minute phone calls also, after passing out fliers over the weekend and attending the unveiling of a veterans memorial in Havelock.

Joe McLaughlin ads decrying Republican U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones sandwiched almost every newscast on the Monday morning cycle on several television channels.

Jones made an official appearance in Craven County at the veterans memorial event on Saturday. He has done interviews and attended some private party events, including one in Greenville with some Craven County Republicans attending that bought him a Newt Gingrich endorsement.

Some in Craven County close to the race said their sense is that McLaughlin, a former Onslow County Commissioner, is making a credible challenge in his bid to unseat the seven-term incumbent.

But many in the party say they are not hearing much from anyone. They await today's turnout of Craven County's 22,547 registered Republicans and the outcome of their vote with interest but little sense of what it will be.