Republican party

The state Republican Party will choose a chair for the next two years Saturday.

So far, two major candidates have signed up, current chairwoman Linda Daves and executive committee member Marcus Kindley.

The N.C. Republicans site, which is not affiliated with the state party, has a helpful questionnaire comparing the two here.

Daves, a retired teacher who has held the position since December, opposes illegal immigration, supports the war on terror and says Republicans have to "come back to our roots as the fiscally and socially conservative party."

Kindley, a Guilford County stockbroker, opposes growth of state and federal spending, stresses that America is "a Christian Nation" and says Republicans should not ignore "the drumbeat of negative stories about the war in Iraq."

The party will choose at its convention in Charlotte this weekend. The position lasts for two years.