* Washington columnist Stuart Rothenberg thinks U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell "could see a steep drop-off" in 2010 from certain "demographic groups."

* U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx wins "Defender of Liberty" award for 100 percent voting-record rating in 2008 from American Conservative Union.

* Hundreds of protesters gather at the legislative building to argue against higher taxes; speakers include Mary Katharine Ham and Joe the Plumber.

* Former Republican auditor Les Merritt and former Raleigh City Councilman John Odom endorse Chad Adams for N.C. Republican Party chairman.

The N.C. Republican Party will decide on a new leader this month.

After several defeats in 2008, the race for party chair has been particularly heated, with all four candidates vowing to mobilize voters and stay true to conservative values, the Associated Press reports.

Political observers say the frontrunners are Chad Adams, former Lee County commissioner and vice president of the John Locke Foundation, and Tom Fetzer, former Raleigh mayor and longtime political consultant.

Adams has the support of former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr and much of the political machine run by Art Pope. Fetzer has the backing of a bevy of current and former state officials, most recently U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick.

Retired Navy officer Bill Randall and businessman Marcus Kindley are also running. 

In a political irony, the June 13 event will be held at the Raleigh convention center, a project famously opposed by Fetzer when he served as mayor. 

* Worth noting: Former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms voted to confirm Sonia Sotomayor as U.S. Circuit judge in 1998; former Sen. Lauch Faircloth against.

* Brian Nick, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, was named a "rising star" by Politics magazine for consultants and advocates under 35.

* N.C. Republican Party chair candidates Chad Adams and Marcus Kindley answer questionnaires on policy from Carolina Politics Online.

* N.C. Democratic Party chair David Young says on Asheville talk radio that his "gut" tells him U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler is thinking of a Senate run.

* Former N.C. Supreme Court Justice and gubernatorial candidate Bob Orr endorses Chad Adams in the race for chair of the N.C. Republican Party.

* Gov. Beverly Perdue tells SAS co-founder John Sall to "get a ram" after sheep at a solar farm interrupt her speech repeatedly.

* North Carolina is the only state in the union where you can't make a citizen's arrest: Although you can detain someone, you can't move them.

* Charlotte Observer columnist Jack Betts thinks state Rep. Cary Allred's propensity to "pop off at every opportunity" has hurt him in his recent brouhaha. 

* Greensboro attorney Locke Clifford suspiciously steps down from a panel advising Sen. Kay Hagan on potential U.S. attorney appointments.

* Senate committee considers rolling back sex ed bill to give parents the option to opt their kids in to comprehensive class instead of opting out.

* N.C. GOP chairman candidate Chad Adams did not like Rob Christensen's Sunday column, demands an apology to former Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

* N.C. State University's chancellor and provost will appear before a grand jury this week, making it clear its probing former Gov. Mike Easley.

Tom Fetzer has racked up the endorsements.

The former Raleigh mayor has steadily unrolled a series of endorsements from conservative politicians and groups in his campaign for chairman of the N.C. Republican Party.

Always known as a solid campaigner, he's also dribbled them out in e-mails to supporters and on his Web site, a strategy to boost their visibility.

Here's a running list of his endorsements:

* Fred Smith, 2008 gubernatorial candidate and former state senator.

* Patrick Ballantine, 2004 gubernatorial nominee and former Republican Senate leader.

* Richard Vinroot, 2000 gubernatorial nominee and former Charlotte mayor.

* The state chapter of the Eagle Forum, a conservative activist group founded by Phyllis Schlafly.

Former Lee County Commissioner Chad Adams, Guilford County business owner Marcus Kindley and retired Navy veteran Bill Randle are also running.

* N.C. Republican Party chair candidate Chad Adams to have a meet-in-greet Wednesday in Raleigh at the home of Pat McCrory's sister.

* House Speaker Joe Hackney tells legislators they're going to have to stick around on Friday to get work done before crossover.

* Sex ed bill briefly delayed by Chapel Hill/Carrboro schools, which have a more progressive policy that they want grandfathered in.

* Gov. Beverly Perdue lobbies Democratic Party chair to bring the 2012 national convention to Charlotte; first state to express interest.

Republicans will have a chance tonight to hear about how the GOP should mount its comeback from the four candidates running for state GOP chairman.

Chad Adams, Tom Fetzer, Marcus Kindley and Bill Randall will speak tonight to the Western Wake Republican Club annual spring fling dinner in Cary, Rob Christensen reports.

The dinner starts at 6 p.m. at the Business Networking Center at 649 Walnut Street in Cary.

The state party chairmanship race will be decided June 12-14 at the state Republican convention at the Raleigh Convention Center. The four are seeking to replace Linda Daves, who is not seeking another term.

David Robinson is no longer running for head of the N.C. GOP.

The chairman of the Wake County Republican party announced by e-mail today that he was withdrawing his candidacy for chairman of the state Republican Party.

He is not endorsing any of the other candidates: Former Lee County Commissioner Chad Adams, Guilford County business owner Marcus Kindley, former Raleigh Mayor Tom Fetzer and retired Navy veteran Bill Randle.

I have traveled many miles with the other four declared candidates for NCGOP Chair, and I have enjoyed their company and commitment to the Republican Party. Each brings distinct talents and energies to their campaign — talents and energies that I am confident will translate into positive momentum in the 2009 and all-important 2010 campaign seasons.

He said the decision "is simply too important" to be swayed by his opinion.

Chad Adams is running for chairman of the N.C. Republican Party.

"I absolutely am," he said. "Mentally, I decided a few weeks ago, but we had to work through some of the logistics."

He said he would work to restore the trust of grassroots activists who have moved away from the party, in part by working as a full-time chairman.

A former Lee County commissioner, Adams works as development vice president for the John Locke Foundation. He said he will take leave over the next week and would step down entirely if he wins at the Republican convention in June.

"We've got to make it exciting to be a Republican again," he said. "The issues still win, even when our candidates are languishing."

He's also launched a Web site for the campaign. 

Guilford County business owner Marcus Kindley, former state Sen. Woody White and Wake County GOP chairman David Robinson are also running for the post.