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U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers of Dunn, a potential U.S. Senate candidate next year, has not yet begun cranking up her money-raising operation.

She raised $97,797 in political contributions during the first quarter of the year, according to federal campaign reports. She had $133,586 on hand at the end of March. That is fine for a congresswoman seeking re-election, but not the kind of money associated with a Senate race.

Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan raised $1.6 million during the first quarter and had $2.7 million on hand at the end of the reporting period.

Democratic Rep. Mike McIntyre of Lumberton, who will likely face another tough re-election effort again next year, raised $118,779 in the first quarter and had $181,672 cash on hand.

A whopping 91 percent of Ellmers' votes made the ACU happy, but she still fell short of its Defender of Liberty title which requires every vote on certain bills picked by ACU to match the organization's desires. ACU looks at votes on bills that "serve as a clear litmus test separating those representatives who defend liberty and liberal members who have turned their backs on our founding principles."

The ACU argues for limited government, individual liberty, free markets, a strong national defense and traditional values.

Other N.C. representatives who scored above 80 percent included Howard Coble of Greensboro, Virginia Foxx of Banner Elk, Patrick McHenry of Cherryville and Sue Myrick of Charlotte, who is now retired.

The ACU award comes the day after the Club for Growth — which supports limited growth and low taxes — tagged Ellmers as a RINO (Republican In Name Only) and put her on a a list of Republicans that scored below 70 percent on the club's scorecard.

McCRORY REITERATES CAMPAIGN THEMES: In his first State of the State address, Gov. Pat McCrory, who has been in office six weeks, offered the broad outline of a legislative agenda that includes lower income tax rates, a revamped education system that uses technology in the classroom and a streamlined government that makes customer service its mission. “Achieving these goals will not be easy. ... But we will do it. We must do it,” said McCrory, who entered through the 11-foot golden doors into the House chamber. Republican lawmakers gathered for the joint legislative session frequently interrupted the 45-minute speech – the first by a GOP governor in 20 years – with applause and even hoots and hollers, giving the speech a pep rally feel at moments.

WHO IS McCRORY? WE STILL DON'T KNOW: North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory’s public image has yet to come into sharp focus during his first weeks in office, even as he presented his program Monday night to a joint session of the legislature, columnist Rob Christensen writes. Is he Charlotte Pat, the centrist mayor of North Carolina’s largest city who campaigned as someone able to work across party lines? Or is he more in line with the deep-seated conservatism that dominates the legislature and much of the Southern GOP? “The public hasn’t formed a really hard impression of Gov. McCrory yet,” said Andrew Taylor, a political science professor at N.C. State University. “He certainly campaigned as a moderate, pragmatic-oriented, problem-solving executive-type who understands the importance of government-business partnerships.

Thanks for reading the Dome Morning Memo -- the State of the State edition. More analysis of the governor's speech below and a preview of today in politics.

Members of the N.C. congressional delegation say they’re ready to compromise on some hardened positions to reach a deal that would prevent the country from plunging over the “fiscal cliff.” Failing to reach an agreement by the end of the year would trigger tax hikes and massive cuts in spending on federal programs.

N.C. Rep. Howard Coble is the latest Republican who says he’s willing to buck one of the party’s sacrosanct pledges to not raise taxes. Read full story here.

More political headlines:

--N.C. Supreme Court Justice Patricia A. Timmons-Goodson, the first and only female African-American to serve on the state’s highest court, is resigning her position. Gov. Bev Perdue, a Democrat who will leave office after next month, is intent on making the replacement even though if it means she rescinds an executive order she signed to do it.

The State Board of Elections has rescheduled to next week the appeal of a potential congressional candidate who was told he arrived too late to file.

Republican Nathan Tabor of Forsyth County came to Raleigh on the last day of the filing period to put his name in for the 6th Congressional District. He was told he missed the noon deadline. 

Tabor says he was in the building on time, and should be declared a candidate. 

The elections board was scheduled to hear his appeal yesterday, but postponed the hearing to March 15. Tabor wants to join three others in the GOP primary, including incumbent Rep. Howard Coble. 

Republican Howard Coble will announce he is putting off a decision on whether to retire until after redistricting litigation is settled, several websites are reporting.

Coble, the veteran Greensboro Republican, has scheduled a news conference this afternoon, sparking speculation that he may announce his retirement. The 80-year old  Coble just underwent a lengthy hospitalization. But the National Journal the Hotline are both reporting that Coble will announce he is deferring a decision.

Rep. Howard Coble, the Greensboro Republican, remains hospitalized in Washington this morning, where he is expected to stay until Friday at the earliest, according to information his office released.

Coble, 80, was admitted to George Washington University Hospital on Tuesday with a persistent respiratory illness. Doctors told  Coble today they have ruled out pneumonia, and confirmed that his respiratory problem depleted his sodium levels.

Tune in at 10 p.m. tonight to “20/20” on ABC and you’ll see U.S. Rep. Howard Coble, R-N.C., talking about reforming congressional pensions. The segment is scheduled to be aired from an interview done earlier in the week by ABC anchor Chris Cuomo.
The issue is a long-held concern by Coble, who  has refused to join the pension program and has introduced legislation to reform the system.
 

Here is what some North Carolina congressman representing safe politically districts had raised this year, according to the latest reports filed by the Federal Election Commission.

Democrat G.K. Butterfield of the 1st district had raised $168,826,826 and had $211,416 on hand. Republican Virginia Foxx of the 5th district had raised $207,065 and had $1.3 million on hand; 6th district Republican Howard Coble has raised $89,552 and had $171,051 on hand.

Republican Sue Myrick of the 9th district raised $193,594 and had $193,934 on hand. Republican Patrick McHenry of the 10th district raised $300,603 and had $127,916 on hand. Democrat Mel Watt of the 12th district raised $141,765 and had $187,970 on hand. Republican Walter of the 3rd district had raised $135,279 and had $127,699 on hand.

Two North Carolina congressmen Wednesday introduced a bill creating a new $5 million competitive federal grant program  to bolster high-tech textile research projects.

The program is designed to encourage projects, such as those developed at N.C. State University, which developed mosquito bite-proof fabrics for use in malaria zones and waterproof leather boots for first responders.

The bi-partisan bill, introduced by Democrat David Price of Chapel Hill and Republican Howard Coble of Greensboro, is called the American Textile Technology Innovation and Research for Exportation Act. It wold be based in the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The measure was hailed by the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition. “Staying at the forefront of research and development is the lifeblood for maintaining the competitiveness of the U.S. textile industry,” said Auggie Tantillo, the coalition's executive director.

“Federal research funding for textiles has been the seed corn contributing to the innovation of products and manufacturing processes that not only have put tens of thousands of Americans to work, but have improved our country's overall quality of life,” Tantillo said.