Welcome to Coffee Talk

Under the Dome is feeling verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves.

I'll give you a topic: U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler is to the Republican Party what U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole is to the Democrats.

Both are first-term incumbents who opponents say are easy targets. Shuler, a Waynesville Democrat, is in a Republican-leaning district. Dole, a Salisbury Republican, has close ties to President Bush in a year that could be rough for the GOP.

And yet no one has stepped forward to challenge either.

In recent weeks, state sen. Tom Apodaca and Brevard District Attorney Jeff Hunt have bailed on challenging Shuler, leaving an Asheville columnist to jokingly throw his own hat in the ring.

At the same time, state Democrats like Gov. Mike Easley, U.S. Rep. Brad Miller and Attorney General Roy Cooper have also passed on challenging Dole.

Both candidates may be beatable, but their would-be opponents sure don't seem to think so.

Hat Tip: Raleigh Soup