A mailer criticizes U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole's record on trade.

The glossy eight-page mailer from Majority Action, a liberal 527 group, argues that free trade agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA have led to losses in North Carolina's manufacturing sector.

"After 43 years in Washington, the only job Elizabeth Dole hasn't done is protect ours," it says. "She's sending North Carolina jobs overseas instead."

Inside, the mailer argues that "China was a Third World country when Dole went to Washington," but it has grown into a manufacturing giant because of free trade.

It also says that Dole voted to give tax breaks to companies that outsource, though it does not list any specific bills to back up its claim.

North Carolina may open an office in China.

Gov. Mike Easley's proposed budget (page 198) calls for spending $375,000 on a new office in Shanghai for the International Trade Division of Business and Industry in the state Department of Commerce, Ben Niolet reports.

"The North Carolina office will recruit Chinese investment in the state and will assist North Carolina companies that wish to increase trade with China," the budget notes.

At a press conference this morning, Easley said China is an "emerging economy," and the state is "a little behind the curve." He noted that the country is looking to make investments in a few states, including North Carolina.

"As we lose jobs in this global economy, we need to make sure that we take advantage of being able to gain jobs from this global economy," he said. "China is a major player in the world, no doubt about it. We (should) just as well get used to it and start dealing with them."

COLUMBIA, S.C.—A day before the South Carolina primary, the Hillary Clinton campaign went after John Edwards with a critical robo call into Democratic households.

"They did robo calls last night, because we were coming up so much they needed to knock us down," said Joe Trippi, Edwards' chief campaign strateigst, reports Rob Christensen. "I don't know if you can expect much more out of the Clintons."

"Before you vote on Saturday, you should know that John Edwards voted for permanent trade relations with China," said the Clinton call.

"That's right, John Edwards voted for the bill that cost thousands of jobs like the ones in the textile mills he talks about so much down here You should also know that John Edwards made nearly a half a million dollars working for a Wall Street investment fund. A fund that's been profiting on foreclosing on the homes of families; including 100 homes right here in South Carolina. That's according to The State newspaper. Here in South Carolina, Edwards says he's one of us, but up on Wall Street he was just another one of them. Can you trust John Edwards?"

The mainland Chinese community in the Triangle may have held its first major fundraiser this month.

N.C. State professor Hannah Young and her husband, Eric, hosted a dinner for state Sen. Janet Cowell's bid for treasurer on Nov. 18.

The Raleigh Democrat, who spent time in China in the late 1980s and speaks some Chinese, has had close ties to the community since she was a Raleigh City Council member.

Young, who immigrated in 1988 and became a citizen in 2000, said the Chinese population in the Triangle is still up for grabs, including herself. Though she is a registered Democrat, she said she often splits her ticket with votes for Republican candidates.

"I have never paid much attention to political things," she said. "I'm a pure scholar."

About 40 people came to the dinner, which raised about $2,500, according to Cowell.

Rep. Robin Hayes is back from China and Guam.

The Concord Republican took a Congressional trip to examine military installations. Hayes is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Barb Barrett reports.

The bipartisan group was led by committee Chairman Ike Skelton, a Missouri Democrat.

In China, they toured a destoyer and visited with the Chinese artillery division that controls both the conventional and nuclear missile forces. Skelton said the group went to forge relationships with Chinese military leaders.

The delegation also went to Guam, where 8,000 U.S. Marines and their families will soon be moved from Japan.