A national liberal group is airing a TV ad urging Rep. Bob Etheridge to support President Obama's budget.

The ad, which begins airing in Raleigh tomorrow, praises the Lillington Democrat, but argues he's being pressured to oppose it by special interests.

"When it comes to creating and protecting jobs, Congressman Bob Etheridge has always stood up for the people of Carolina, but now special interests in Washington are squeezing him to oppose the president's budget."

The ad urges viewers to call Etheridge and urge him to support the budget. 

In a press release, the group says it is airing five ads "in the districts of 'Blue Dog' Democrats who serve on the House Budget Committee."

While Etheridge serves on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, he is not on the House Appropriations Committee nor is he a member of the Blue Dog Coalition.

The ad is being run by USAction, a grassroots liberal group.

Update: A spokeswoman for Etheridge says he is on the Budget Committee.

"Rep. Etheridge supports the priorities in President Obama's budget proposal, and agrees with the President that by investing in education, clean energy and health care we can transform our economy," said Joanne Peters. "Rep. Etheridge looks forward to working on the House Budget Committee to produce a budget resolution that will invest in these priorities and return the country to a path of fiscal discipline."

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler's non-campaign lasted 118 days.

The Waynesville Democrat kicked off his non-run for the seat held by Republican Sen. Richard Burr in an interview with the Hendersonville Times-News on Nov. 13 and ended it with a brief statement yesterday.

At no point did he ever say he was actually in the race, but Shuler got some good coverage nonetheless.

A few highlights: Shuler was praised in an editorial, held a fundraiser with Bill Clinton that raised six figures, attended Gov. Beverly Perdue's inaugural ball, was polled twice against Burr, drew attention (and the ire of Democratic leaders) for criticizing the stimulus package, became a whip for the Blue Dog Coalition and became a target for liberals on BlueNC.

All in all, that's pretty good coverage for the second-newest member of the state's Congressional delegation. It beats the attention paid to Democratic Rep. Brad Miller during his 63-day non-campaign against Sen. Elizabeth Dole in 2007.

Previously: Why the "Sophomore Strivers" usually don't run. 

U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell says he never asked to join the Blue Dog Coalition.

As part of an ongoing drive to fill reporters' inboxes with criticism of the freshman Democrat, the National Republican Congressional Committee e-mailed Dome this morning to breathlessly report that the fiscally conservative coalition had "rejected" Kissell.

But a spokeswoman for Kissell said that's backwards.

"Congressman Kissell pledged during the campaign that he would not join the Blue Dogs and therefore has not," responded Brianna Atkins by e-mail. 

She said he was asked to join by Rep. Heath Shuler, a whip for the coalition, but declined. Kissell has not joined any other coalitions in the House either, she added.

"As he says, he isn't much of a joiner," she wrote. 

* Charlotte Observer editor Jack Betts says that legislative Republicans hoping for more bipartisanship should drop the old "Democrat Party" shtick.

* Former Buncombe County commissioner David Young wins race for chairmanship of N.C. Democratic Party on the executive committee's first ballot Saturday.

* Freshman Rep. Larry Kissell gets "Buy American" provision for rail and security workers' uniforms added to $819 billion federal stimulus package.

* Sen. Richard Burr, Rep. Patrick McHenry whip for GOP; Rep. Heath Shuler whips for Blue Dogs; Rep. Mike McIntyre whips for House Democrats.

SMOKE? THERE'S FIRE: State Rep. Hugh Holliman is fired up over smoking. On the first day of the legislature, the House Democratic leader reintroduced a bill that would ban lighting up in restaurants and at work. But will it flame out again?

THE UNKINDEST CUT: Gov. Beverly Perdue asked state agencies to propose cuts to help make up for a $2 billion budget shortfall. They came back with $500 million in cuts. Cut deeper, she said. Perdue may want to hand out carving knives ... or chainsaws.

POLL-LAND: Two polling firms, one Democratic and one conservative, have already come out with surveys on the 2010 Senate race between Sen. Richard Burr and ... well, it's too soon to say, but that's not stopping them. Looks like some folks are going through withdrawal.

IN OTHER NEWS: Change may be the mantra in Washington, but the legislature is sticking with the familiar. House Speaker Joe Hackney remains for a second term; Senate leader Marc Basnight, a record ninth. ... U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler earns Blue Dog bona fides by breaking with Democrats and voting against the stimulus bill. Bark? Yes. Bite? Yes. ... Still smarting from his losing gubernatorial campaign, Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory is going to work for his brother as a sales consultant. ... State legislators have already filed three bills to bar drivers from calling or texting and banning phones from prison. Would you like to leave a message?

The Blue Dogs, a crew of House Democrats who champion fiscal conservatism, were reported earlier this week as backing U.S. Rep. John Dingell of Michigan in his battle to defend his chairmanship of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee.

That's true, at least, for North Carolina's members, Barb Barrett reports.

Blue Dog Mike McIntyre, a Lumberton Democrat, cast his ballot for Dingell.

"Congressman McIntyre supported Congressman Dingell because of his deep respect for the seniority system and his personal relationship with him," said McIntyre's spokesman, Dean Mitchell.

The state's other Blue Dog, U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler of Waynesville, served on Dingell's "whip team," meaning he was tapped to help round up caucus votes for the Michigan lawmaker.

Previously: Watt backed Dingell; Price, Kissell mum. 

Barack Obama is reaching out to the Blue Dogs.

According to the Washington Post, the Democratic presidential candidate took a break last week from campaigning to call each of the 49 conservative Democrats who belong to the Blue Dog Coalition.

Rep. Mike Ross of Arkansas is not likely to bring Barack Obama many votes on Nov. 4. Neither is Rep. John Tanner of Tennessee or Rep. Allen Boyd, a farmer from the Florida Panhandle.

But the three could play a big role in the success or failure of the next president, one reason Obama took a break from campaigning last week to call each of them, among the leaders of the "Blue Dog Coalition," a group of conservative-leaning Democrats who are committed to balancing the federal budget. The group's 49 members already wield significant power in the House, and their ranks are expected to expand in the next Congress.

In North Carolina, Reps. Heath Shuler and Mike McIntyre are Blue Dogs.

They have also been the two members of North Carolina's Congressional delegation who have had the weakest ties to Obama during the primary and general election campaigns here. 

U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper will tour North Carolina for Barack Obama.

The Tennessee Democrat, a member of the conservative Blue Dogs, will addres economic issues in stops in Pinehurst, Sanford, Rocky Mount and Chapel Hill.

He is a member of the House Budget Committee and the Armed Services Committee. 

U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre is the “Blue Dog of the Week” up in Washington.

McIntyre, a Democrat from Lumberton, was honored by the congressional Blue Dogs – a group of conservative Democrats who push for fiscal responsibility, reports Barb Barrett.

North Carolina’s other Blue Dog is Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler of Waynesville.