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The second-place finisher in the Democratic labor commissioner primary is asking for a runoff election.

With the formal request, Marlowe Foster will challenge John C. Brooks, the top vote-getter who is seeking a re-election to his former post. Brooks served from 1977 to 1993 as the state's labor commissioner. The three-way May primary didn't allow a candidate to receive more than 40 percent and win outright.

In a segment called "Tarred Heels," The Daily Show's Jon Stewart ridiculed North Carolina Democrats on Thursday for their various sex scandals.

He starts with John Edwards and moves to the sexual harassment controversy at the state Democratic Party. ("On the bright side, no love child.") His mashup of David Parker's notorious rambling press conference is clever as he notes Jay Parmley's "Seinfeld defense." (He's a close talker.) The kicker: "Congratulations North Carolina, you have become the Democrat's South Carolina." Ouch.

The TV satellite trucks are no longer stationary outside the N.C. Democratic Party headquarters on Hillsborough Street. But many questions surrounding the sexual harassment claims that crippled the party still remain unanswered. Here's a few storylines left in my notebook:

1. The money. The cost of the settlement with the former Democratic Party staffer who alleged sexual harassment and the source of the money is still unknown. But here's a more interesting point that went underreported: At the press conference, when I asked Chairman David Parker the source of the payout he said this: "I do not know. I leave that up the lawyer." So attorney John Wallace is authorized to spend party money and select its source as he sees fit? 

A three-judge panel hearing a redistricing lawsuit ruled that  private lawyers who legislative Republicans paid with taxpayer money must make their redistricting documents public.

Lawyers for Democrats and non-profits suing over the redistricting plans sought documents used to prepare the redistricting maps. The three-judge panel ruled Friday that the documents private lawyers produced are public record.

After the redistricting maps become law, all information requests to legislative employees and documents prepared by legislative employees on redistricting matters become public record.

Lawyers for Democrats and the non-profits fighting the redistricting plans also wanted to see information prepared by private lawyers Thomas Farr and Michael Carvin, private lawyers GOP legislative leaders hired to give them redistricting advice.

Their law firms are legislative employees, the three-judge panel, because they each served as consultants and counsel to legislators and were paid with state money.

In an extraordinary act of political theater, the state Democratic chairman described and dismissed outright the sexual harassment claims against the party’s former top official and refused to immediately relinquish his post Thursday, despite intense national political pressure.

David Parker stood behind a podium, pale in the TV lights, speaking for 35 minutes using prepared notes and pausing long enough before answering questions to allow the laughter of children on the school playground next door to fill the cavernous room. Read the full story about the controversy paralyzing the Democratic Party and learn more about his investment in a Charlotte area development that put him in the public eye.

In other headlines this morning:

--Activities for and against the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and civil unions have drawn more attention than the primary campaigns so far. The marriage campaigns have been working for months on their messages, but now that early voting has started and with less than three weeks until the May 8 primary, the pace and intensity of the efforts are increasing. Read about the competing campaign's efforts here.

U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan criticized Mitt Romney this morning ahead of the presumptive GOP nominee’s visit to Charlotte. Hagan, joined by U.S. Rep. Mel Watt in a conference call, ridiculed what she called Romney’s “so-called vision for America’s future.”

 “The future of America’s middle-class families is the last thing on Mitt Romney’s mind,” she said.

Watt, whose district office is a block from the site of Romney’s afternoon speech, said the Republican “believes we can cut and slash our way to prosperity.”

“I’m especially incensed that Mitt Romney is making this mock speech in my congressional district,” Watt said.

The News & Observer asked four area political pundits to share their reaction about Tuesday’s gubernatorial debate. Here are their thoughts:

Andy Taylor, political scientist at N.C. State University: “The candidates are really beginning to distinguish themselves. Faison was feisty, repeatedly using language that the party’s base would approve of. Etheridge discussed his experience and steady hand, embracing his Washington record in a way you just don’t see candidates doing these days. Dalton, perhaps because he is left with no choice, projected himself as a technocrat, full of practical ideas.”

Thomas Mills, Democratic political strategist and co-founder of Bates & Mills Consulting in Carrboro: “The candidates’ closing arguments summed up their appearances pretty well. Walter Dalton talked about programs and policies; Bob Etheridge talked about experience and leadership; and Bill Faison talked about himself.”

For three consecutive nights this week, the major Democratic candidates for governor will debate each other on television in what could be a pivotal moment in the race to become North Carolina’s next chief executive.

The debates are seen as particularly critical this year, because with just three weeks until the May 8 primary, the governor’s race has so far attracted little attention, created little buzz and produced few political commercials. Read more here.

In other headlines:

--The N.C. Democratic Party remains shrouded in questions after the resignation of Executive Director Jay Parmley amid a fast-moving scandal.

--A former speech writer for John Edwards is trying to quash a subpoena from her former boss calling on her to testify.

--The Nature Conservancy's North Carolina chapter fights to preserve land even after state lawmakers made deep cuts to the conservation trust funds.

The North Carolina Obama campaign said Tuesday that the administration had worked to make energy more available, and blamed rising prices on oil companies and speculators.

Democratic Congressman Brad Miller, speaking as a surrogate for the campaign, said there is more domestic oil production than at any time in the past eight years and more natural gas production than the nation has ever had.

“North Carolina voters know where the responsibility really lies,” Miller said in a teleconference. “They place the blame with the oil companies. They place the blame with speculators and they know perfectly well there has been an extraordinary effort in the Obama administration to increase energy production.''

The N.C. Digital Heritage Center pulled the college yearbook photos for the three major Democratic candidates for governor, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton (left), state Rep. Bill Faison (middle) and former Congressman Bob Etheridge (right). The blog couldn't find an image of Pat McCrory, the likely Republican nominee. Read more here.