U.S Rep. Bob Etheridge may not be that close to Barack Obama, but his former staffers are.

Two former staffers for the Lillington Democrat are now working for the Democratic National Committee, according to the Washington Posts' The Fix blog.

Brad Woodhouse served as a policy aide and then press secretary Etheridge's for nearly five years before leaving to work for Erskine Bowles' 2002 campaign against Elizabeth Dole. He previously worked for Gov. Jim Hunt's administration.

He will now share communications duties at the national party with other staffers.

Woodhouse has a close relationship with Robert Gibbs, a spokesman with Obama's campaign. Gibbs worked as Etheridge's press secretary, leaving to join John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign and later the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

When he left that job, he was replaced by Woodhouse.

Americans United for Change is targeting U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes. 

The Washington-based liberal advocacy group is joining other organizations in putting ads out to target the Concord Republican for his vote against expanding SCHIP, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, Barb Barrett reports.

The group isn’t targeting any of the other N.C. members who voted the same way, including Democrats Mike McIntyre and Bob Etheridge.

President Bush vetoed the bill, and Democratic leaders are trying to get House members to change their vote to override the veto.

Brad Woodhouse, president of Americans United, said he doesn't want to waste money and that McIntyre and Etheridge appear “unmovable” on the issue. Both oppose using an increase in the tobacco tax to pay for the expansion and say it would hurt the state’s economy.

More after the jump.

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