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UPDATED: As more political observers (here and here), begin to take note of Democratic state Rep. Bill Faison's political ambitions -- who could possibly challenge to Gov. Bev Perdue -- the Orange County lawmaker is airing another television advertisement.

Faison's 30-second TV spot features him speaking directly into the camera and declaring "we have jobs crisis in our state." Faison then uses the opportunity tout his jobs plan and asks for the public's help to pressure the Republican-controlled legislature to hear it. "We can fix this," he concludes.

The ad aired Sunday morning on WRAZ-50 in Raleigh during the political affairs show N.C. Spin. It appears identical to one he aired on WCNC-TV's "Flashpoint" in November. Faison's aide Jeanne Bonds said the ad will air the next three Sundays during N.C. Spin. The cost of the buy is $3,000.

Faison recently loaned his campaign $500,000. His plans for the money remain unknown. But the ad will surely only increase speculation about Faison's plans.

N.C. Spin is reporting in its weekly e-mail blast that they've heard "rumors" that state Sen. R.C. Soles Jr. is being pressured to resign and possibly take a plea in his assault case.

Soles, a Columbus County Democrat and the longest serving lawmaker in the state, has been indicted in a shooting at his home. He previously announced his plans not to seek re-election.

N.C. Spin's claims about Soles are based on rumors, which are often as accurate as Dome's own seer of truth, our cheap plastic toy, the Magic Eight Ball.

So we wiped a thin layer of dust off our special plastic correspondent and put N.C. Spin's assertion to the test:

"Magic Eight Ball, will R.C. Soles plea and/or resign his senate seat?"

Answer: "You May Rely On it."

And so we shall.

Gov. Beverly Perdue borrowed a page from President Obama tonight.

In her first State of the State speech before the legislature, the Democratic governor noted the "tough times" in the economy and called for an end to political bickering.

"Starting today, it is no longer business as usual for North Carolina's budget," she said. "I want all of our citizens to know that it's a new day in North Carolina. Everything is on the table. We do not have time for talk-show political posturing or petty partisan games."

Though the state capital has a handful of political talk shows — N.C. Spin, News 14 Carolina's "Political Connections" and some episodes of "Headline Saturday" — it is hardly overrun by the pundits that rule Washington, D.C.

(Kim Genardo's "At Issue" show was canceled last month.)

But President Obama has gotten a lot of mileage in recent weeks out of criticizing radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh.

There are a number of radio shows around the state with similar styles to Limbaugh, such as those on WPTF AM radio in the Triangle. But they don't have a statewide reach.

* N.C. Spin commentator Tom Campbell praises Gov. Beverly Perdue's recent changes to the top management of the State Board of Education.

* Republican consultant Carter Wrenn suggests GOP legislators push hard to open up certain personnel records related to probation officers to score points with voters.

* Conservative blogger Katy Benningfield says the race is heating up for the next state Republican Party chair, with gladhanding all around at the county conventions.

* Independent Weekly reporter spies jawbreakers, a miniature purple hat, Texas Pete and Diet Coke on legislators' desks, but not a lot of family photos.

This week's edition of N.C. Spin has some more speculation on Cabinet appointments.

With the benefit of hindsight, we at Dome can say the bit about Rep. Bill Owens being up for secretary of Commerce under Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue is not true, but we can't fault them for that.

(Heck, we thought it too until this morning.)

The other name mentioned by the weekly online gossip column:

We have heard recently that Governor-elect Perdue plans to fulfill a promise to Charlotte leaders by opening a Charlotte Governor's office and that Crandall Bowles, wife of UNC President Erskine Bowles and former head of Springs Industries, might head up the Charlotte office.

Previously, N.C. Spin (and Dome) had said that Bowles might be up for a position as commerce secretary.

One member of the Iron Cabinet may stay — in a different position.

One bit of speculation among the well- and sometimes not-so-well-informed in the state capital is that Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue may keep Bryan Beatty on board.

Beatty has served Gov. Mike Easley since 2001 as secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety and is reportedly interested in staying. However, Perdue may shift him to the Department of Correction, where fellow "Iron Secretary" Theodis Beck is retiring.

In other news, Rep. Bill Owens, a Pasquotank County Democrat who was ranked among the most effective in the House in 2007, may be up for the secretary of Commerce position. (N.C. Spin had previously related this rumor.)

Other names that had been discussed for that position included Crandall Bowles, Sen. David Hoyle, retiring Rep. Jim Harrell and former deputy Tony Copeland.

Asheville Citizen-Times reporter Jordan Schrader writes on his Capital Letters blog that current Commerce Secretary Jim Fain doesn't expect to remain in the post.

Update: Owens was spotted visiting the lieutenant governor's office on Blount Street this afternoon.

Rep. Alma Adams is in the running for a Perdue post.

The Greensboro Democrat's name has been raised several times for a possible appointment to the cabinet of Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue.

The most recent tip comes from the Greensboro News-Record's Inside Scoop column, which quotes Rep. Earl Jones, also a Greensboro Democrat.

"She probably will get offered a position by Perdue," Jones told the newspaper.

Adams had no comment, but she would be an interesting pick. During the Democratic primary, she cut a TV ad defending Perdue against charges of not opposing racism strongly enough by state Treasurer Richard Moore.

She also was one of the prominent critics of the diversity of Perdue's original transition team.

The News-Record notes N.C. Spin's claim that Adams is in the running for head of the state Department of Administration.

Update: Adams, an art professor, may also be considered for secretary of the state Department of Cultural Resources.

Previously: Names in the mix for Perdue's Cabinet

N.C. Spin has seconded the Dome's gossip.

As we noted, one of the names potentially being discussed for state secretary of transportation is Sen. Clark Jenkins.

Now the weekly e-newsletter has made the same call:

The Tarboro Senator has served on the DOT board, has headed the Senate committee on Transportation, and has been a vocal critic of the way the department has been run. Jenkins would be a maverick at DOT and would surely shake things up in this department that often appears arrogant and incompetent. He is highly independent; however he does have very close connections with Senate leadership. Maybe the right man at the right time.

We asked the Magic Eight Ball if Jenkins would be appointed. It's response: Yes.

Is Tom Campbell going to be arrested?

In what may one day be seen as the most bizarre Magic Eight Ball question that we will ever post on this blog, we turn first to the recent edition of N.C. Spin.

The "In The Soup" column, which we assume is written by executive producer Tom Campbell — if only because of the name, Campbell's soup ... get it? — ends on this rather odd note:

More than one source has reported that a warrant has been issued for the arrest of NC SPIN’s Executive Producer and moderator Tom Campbell. Further details are sketchy at this time but we promise to tell all next week.

We've often noted N.C. Spin's rumor-based "heard on the street" approach to the news, but we did not know it applied to their own lives.

So, Eight Ball, has a warrant been issued for Tom Campbell? Ask again later. Then: Signs point to yes.

Tom, call your attorney. 

The final details have been set for the N.C. Spin gubernatorial debates.

The Democratic debate will be held at WRAL's studio in Raleigh on April 8 and will be aired on Sunday, April 13.

The Republican debate will be held at the Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst on April 10 and will be aired on Sunday, April 20, and Sunday, April 27.