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The network built by Rusty Carter for giving campaign contributions was made possible by his company money, according to Carter's lawyers and a prosecutor who handled his guilty plea on Tuesday.

The N&O's analysis of the Carter network's giving since 1999 shows that Senate leader Marc Basnight has benefitted the most, getting more than $100,000 in campaign money over the years, J. Andrew Curliss reports on the Investigations blog.

In 2008, Carter gave the state Democratic Party $50,000. It is not clear if officials examined where that money came from.

Here's a breakdown of the giving that totals more than $10,000 total from Carter, his wife, Susan, or his employees.

Marc Basnight campaign: $109,000

Bev Perdue committee: $93,000

Mike Easley committee: $68,000

N.C. Democratic Party: $67,500

Julia Boseman committee: $45,000

Citizens for Higher Education: $25,565  (contributions were from Carter and his wife).

TOO CLOSE TO CALL: The Democratic Senate primary is so close and so fluid that it's difficult to figure out what will happen Tuesday.

Several polls suggest Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and former state Sen. Cal Cunningham are in a dead heat, with Chapel Hill attorney Ken Lewis a distant third. But with voter turnout expected to be low, who knows? Will any candidate be able to meet the 40 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff between the two top finishers? (N&O)

VOTE TUESDAY: The primary election is tomorrow. Here's what you need to know. (N&O)

OUT OF MONEY: The campaign committee of former North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley has run out of money and owes $210,000 for legal bills and a penalty imposed by the State Board of Elections last fall. (AP)

GUILTY, HE SAID: Ruffin Poole, the former aide to Democratic Gov. Mike Easley, pleaded guilty to a single count of income tax evasion, setting the stage for him to begin cooperating with an investigation into Easley's administration. The so-called "Little Governor" is now the big cooperating witness.

THEIR TURN: Gov. Bev Perdue released her budget proposal for the coming fiscal year and included deep cuts to education to mitigate a deficit that is already more than $700 million. The document is now about as useful as a tire chuck because the legislative Democrats who write the budget say they plan to re-write pretty much the whole thing.

CASH FLOW LOW: The Democrats running for U.S. Senate are finding it a little tough to raise a lot of money. Only Cal Cunningham has enough to go on TV. Elaine Marshall and Ken Lewis have raised some cash, but not enough to fight it out on the evening news commercial breaks. Meanwhile, Republican Sen. Richard Burr has more than $5 million, meaning he's a formidable opponent for the candidate who emerges from the Democratic primary.

IN OTHER NEWS: Republican Pat McCrory endorsed two candidates in the same race. Perdue unveiled a plan for reducing the state's prison population. A state association of chiropractors is hoping to bump into President Barack Obama, who is vacationing this weekend at the same Asheville hotel where the chiropractors have scheduled a conference.

In assessing the guilty plea by Ruffin Poole, and its possible effects for former Gov. Mike Easley, an N&O editorial today wondered: "Perhaps Poole can even solve the mystery of what happened to Easley's travel records for 2005 — records whose disappearance would have to be called convenient for the former guv."

That issue, for those who don't remember, involved records of travel and events by Easley that were turned over to the N&O last year by the state Highway Patrol, J. Andrew Curliss reports on the Investigations blog. The N&O requested records for 2003 to 2009.

Many were provided, but all of 2005 was missing.

And that was a big year for Easley. He traveled with McQueen Campbell at least once to Florida on a fishing trip; it's unclear where he stayed, or who paid. His wife got a job at N.C. State University. And Easley acquired a lot at Cannonsgate — a waterfront parcel that came with a $137,000 discount at closing.

After much controversy about the missing year of records, there seems to be no answer for what happened to them.

But might Poole know?

POOLE JOINS WITNESS LIST: Ruffin Poole, an inner-circle aide to former Gov. Mike Easley, pleaded guilty Monday to a single count of income tax evasion in an abrupt deal that spared him a trial on 57 charges of corruption.

Ruffin Poole joins a growing group of friends of former Gov. Mike Easley who are cooperating with investigators. Poole's guilty plea Monday gives federal prosecutors a high-ranking official who can describe the private side of the ex-governor's administration. Prosecutors said the guilty plea benefits their investigation that has focused on Easley supporters who received help from his administration. (N&O)

AND THE LOSER IS: Gov. Bev Perdue plans to release her budget proposal this morning, and the big question is who and what will get the ax.

Budget forecasters agree that the state is facing a deficit for next year that has already reached $788 million, nearly 4 percent of the state's general fund. The state is still counting all those tax returns from people and businesses that were mailed April 15, and officials generally accept that the news on state revenue is likely to get worse.

That means something or someone in state government is going to get cut. (N&O)

SPEND MONEY, LOSE WEIGHT: The Legislative Task Force on Childhood Obesity on Monday announced 14 recommendations to help make healthy living a way of life for children, from their daily activities to what they eat and do in school. That would save money on health costs in the long run. But in the short run, the next step is to turn the proposals into laws that would cost the state millions of dollars. (N&O)

Ruffin Poole, a longtime aide to former Gov. Mike Easley who is accused of 57 corruption counts, has reached a plea deal with prosecutors, court records indicate.

A hearing is set for 2 p.m. today before U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle, J. Andrew Curliss reports on the Investigations blog.

The terms of any plea deal are not yet known.

Officials could not be reached or have declined to comment.

Boyle must accept the deal before it is considered final and, if past cases are an indication, he will question both sides at today's hearing.

A deal would avert a trial that was set to begin in just two weeks.

Poole has pleaded not guilty to each of the 57 counts against him, including tax evasion, money laundering, racketeering and fraud. Prosecutors have alleged that Poole took money and gifts from developers while also influencing state permits those developers needed.

The hearing today is for Poole to change his plea, court records show.

Poole and his lawyer, Joseph Zeszotarski of Raleigh, had filed motions seeking to dismiss most of the charges — though not the tax evasion counts.

They also had argued that they needed more time to defend the case, and ensure Poole gets a fair trial. Prosecutors had disagreed.

Boyle had set a trial to begin on May 3, well before the August date Poole wanted.

The timing was in line with what prosecutors sought.

The case involving Poole is much broader and centers around questions about Easley, a Democrat who was governor for two terms. Easley left office last year.

Prosecutors have said in court filings they wanted to conclude the Poole case — and the broader investigation soon.

They had asked for the Poole trial to be finished by June 4.

Poole was one of the closest aides to Easley, serving as a special counsel and in other roles throughout his eight years in office.

Check the Investigations blog for updates throughout the day.

ABOVE THE LAW: State Sen. Don Davis learned a little bit about public relations this week when he wondered aloud to a reporter whether lawmakers conducting public business should be exempt from speeding tickets. Davis, a Snow Hill Democrat, had been stopped in Zebulon and was concerned about the length of the traffic stop. Day after his comments were reported, Davis issued a statement in which he clarified that he does not believe lawmakers are above the law.

DEBATE CLUB: The Democrats running for U.S. Senate participated in a debate that featured some gentle nudging among the candidates and some less-than-gentle nudging of Republican Sen. Richard Burr. Memorable lines include little-known candidate Ann Worthy explaining that as a teacher, she couldn't possibly do any worse in Congress than the lawyers and politicians already there.

THE CHOICE: Speaker Joe Hackney signaled that during the campaign, Democrats intend to portray Republicans as a party that can't or won't govern. Meanwhile Republicans are gearing up for a campaign based on public discontent about Gov. Bev Perdue and President Barack Obama.

IN OTHER NEWS: Ruffin Poole, an aide to former Gov. Mike Easley, is set to face a trial on corruption charges May 3. Attorney General Roy Cooper named a new head of his office's Consumer Protection Division. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin will headline the Democrats' Jefferson Jackson Dinner.

The corruption trial of Ruffin Poole, a longtime aide to former Gov. Mike Easley, will begin on May 3.

A federal judge set the date on Tuesday, and it is much earlier than the August trial Poole and his lawyer had sought, J. Andrew Curliss reports. They had argued that reviewing voluminous documents and sorting through tax issues would require extra time for Poole to get a fair trial.

Poole has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Poole's lawyer, Joseph Zeszotarski, could not be reached immediately.

Prosecutors had originally argued for a mid-May trial, but U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle initially set a late April date.

After hearing arguments recently, he ordered a one-week delay until May 3. Prosecutors have estimated the trial could take two or three weeks.

Poole is charged with 57 corruption counts related to money and gifts he received from prominent developers while he also was taking state action as the governor's right-hand man about state permits the developers needed. The charges against Poole include money laundering and tax evasion.

RACE TO ETHICS: Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue unveiled a package of proposed ethics reforms and Republicans were quick to claim they were the party of ethics. With both parties running on ethics, might we actually see meaningful reforms this year?

FOR EFFECT: The Senate is losing some of its most effective Democrats, according to the biennial legislative effectiveness survey by the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research. Over in the House, Republicans were mostly shut out of the top spots for effectiveness. '

THANK HIM LATER: Democratic U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge says he's not worried about how his vote on the Democratic health care law will affect his chances of keeping his seat in Congress. The bill was not popular in his district, but Etheridge said that he believes voters will change their minds.

IN OTHER NEWS: Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr says he has $5.3 million in his campaign account. Ruffin Poole, an aide to former Democratic Gov. Mike Easley has pleaded not guilty to 57 corruption-related charges. Republicans are keeping up the pressure on Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper to join a multi-state lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the health care reform law.

Ruffin Poole, an aide to former Gov. Mike Easley, pleaded not guilty today to 57 federal corruption charges.

U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle read the list of charges to Poole and asked him "Do you plead guilty or not guilty to those?"

In each case, Poole said, "Not Guilty."

The formal arraignment sets the stage for a trial. A grand jury indicted Poole on a list of charges that accuse him of accepting gifts and favors from developers who wanted help with permits for their developments near the coast. Boyle put off a key decision in the case — when will the trial start. Prosecutors have argued for a swift resolution while Poole's attorney has argued for more time.

Boyle said he was inclined to give Poole extra "weeks" meaning the trial would likely start some time in May.

Pictured: Poole leaves the federal courthouse with his wife, Kathryn Bishop Poole. Photo by staff photographer Chris Seward.