Hagan will not run against Dole

State Sen. Kay Hagan is not running for U.S. Senate.

Since last week, it's been rumored that the Greensboro Democrat had decided against challenging U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole in 2008.

She confirmed it this morning with Greensboro News & Record reporter Mark Binker.

"I've studied it extremely hard," she told Binker. "But I really think that right now, I can do more for the citizens of Guilford County and North Carolina where I am."

In a press release from Hagan, Senate President Marc Basnight said that the state legislature is fortunate she's chosen to remain in Raleigh.

"The U.S. Senate's loss is the North Carolina Senate's gain," he said. 

Previously: Chapel Hill investment banker Jim Neal is running; state Rep. Grier Martin to decide this week.