Kay Hagan will not attend the Democratic National Convention.

The Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate has too many other things to do in North Carolina, her campaign told Dome in an e-mail Thursday.

"75 days until the election as of today and there aren't enough hours in the day," Hagan spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan wrote.

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole is not attending her convention either. Last month, the Salisbury Republican's campaign also cited a desire to spend time in North Carolina.

In 2004, the two major candidates for U.S. Senate split. Democrat Erskine Bowles skipped his party's convention in Boston. Republican Richard Burr attended the GOP gathering in New York.

Hat tip: Politico.

Can't make it to Denver?

You can send a video instead. The Democratic National Convention will hold a virtual "town hall" with video submissions from around the country.

Politicians and Democratic experts will answer questions posed in the videos.

To get your question taped, go to Moore Square in Raleigh on the corner of Martin and South Blount streets today from 4 to 8 p.m.

Staffers from the Barack Obama campaign will be on hand. 

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole is not the only Republican skipping the convention.

The Charlotte Observer's Lisa Zagaroli reports that at least three other North Carolina politicians won't be heading to St. Paul this year: U.S. Reps. Robin Hayes, Sue Myrick and Howard Coble.

Hayes and Myrick say they are busy, but Coble never attends:

"The best explanation — this may sound strange since I have chosen the political arena as my career — but I'm more comfortable in the presence of 20 people than I am in the presence of 200 people," he said. "That convention is wall-to-wall people. I could see losing four or five days when I could be at home. My record will remain intact."

Rep. Patrick McHenry says he hasn't decided if he'll attend.

Meantime, Rep. Virginia Foxx and Sen. Richard Burr will be going, while Democratic Rep. Mel Watt intends to head to his party's convention in Denver. 

Gov. Mike Easley's shoulder was in the news this week.

Three posts about the governor's surgery made the most-read list this week thanks to links from the front page of the N&O and Wonkette.

1. Bump Lump: Easley said he realized he needed surgery after a famous fist bump. He'd rather be in the emergency room with Barack Obama than the front of the bus with John McCain...

2. Doctor's Orders: Easley's doctor says he'll have to avoid "strenuous activity" until next year. Luckily for him, the legislature's already out of session.

3. Juvenile Justice: The state auditor found that some recipients of juvenile justice money had conflicts of interest. And no, they weren't promoting delinquency.

4. No Show: After speaking at the last three, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole will skip this year's GOP convention. She's busy washing that man right out of her hair.

5. Like a Surgeon: Easley's doctor said he was out of surgery and not feeling any pain. Apparently, he hasn't gotten the bill for the co-payment yet.

Will Kay Hagan attend the Democratic national convention? 

The Democratic Senate candidate may or may not go to the convention to nominate Barack Obama in Denver in late August.  

"No decisions have been made," spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan wrote in an e-mail to Dome.

Hagan's opponent, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole will not attend, the Republican national convention, despite speaking at the last three conventions.

Will U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole be a no-show at her party's big bash in St. Paul?

The National Journal is reporting that Dole, of Salisbury, is on the fence about whether to attend the Republican national convention, which begins over Labor Day weekend, Barb Barrett reports.

Dole is in a tough battle for re-election against Democratic state senator Kay Hagan and might want to spend time campaigning.

But Dole also is one of the bona-fide rock stars of the GOP, the type of speaker who could rally the faithful at the daily state delegation breakfasts.

She also is a former presidential candidate herself, running briefly in 2000. And she’s the wife of popular former Sen. Bob Dole — who also is a former presidential candidate.

Elizabeth Dole had a prime-time television speaking role at the last GOP convention in New York City, where she praised President Bush and talked in support of traditional marriage, freedom of religion and the sanctity of life.

Several other Republican senators also have not committed to attending the convention.

Dole's spokeswoman has not yet been reached for comment about Dole's plans.

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, North Carolina's other Republican, will be in St. Paul. He is the Senate co-chairman of the GOP platform committee.

Update: Dole will not be in St. Paul, confirms her spokeswoman, Katie Hallaway.

"She’s got a busy week scheduled in North Carolina," Hallaway said. "When there are breaks in the Senate schedule, she spends as much time as possible in North Carolina."

Hallaway said nothing should be inferred about Dole missing the convention — either about the senator's support for McCain or any opinion about the security of her re-election in November.

Dole will be visiting with businesses, organizations and other constituent groups, but Hallaway said the schedule is not yet finalized. 

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and lieutenant governor candidate Robert Pittenger talk about how Huckabee used the Heimlich maneuver on Pittenger on the show "Fox & Friends" Monday.

Speaking to N.C. GOP convention delegates Saturday, former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee had kind words for the presumptive Democratic nominee, the first African American to be his party's standard bearer.

"I think we all, Democrat and Republican, as Americans we can all celebrate that we've gotten to the place where that could happen," said Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor. "Let's not take that from him or from the country."

Republicans, he added, "would be foolish between now and November trying to demonize (Obama). "But I think Republicans would be more foolish not to distinguish between (his) change and the change we need."

Huckabee went on to praise the Republican nominee, his former rival, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Jim Morrill reports.

"He's a man of integrity, he's a man of honor, he's a man of conviction," he said.

Pat McCrory is picking up the mantle of change.

In a speech at the state Republican convention in Greensboro today, the gubernatorial nominee received one of the loudest ovations as he called himself "a change agent" in his race against Democratic nominee Beverly Perdue, Jim Morrill reports.

"We have been governed for the past decade by the good ole boy politics of Gov. (Mike) Easley and Lt. Gov. Perdue," he said. "I want to change the culture."

John Davis, president of the pro-business group NCFREE, said McCrory and Obama could appeal to many of the same kind of voters: newcomers, urban, young and ready for change.

"It's not a party thing," he said. "It's an anti-establishment, a 'pox-on-both-your-houses,' general change-voter driving this election year."

Alan Pugh, the GOP chairman in Randolph County, agreed.

"So for those who understand the dynamics of the election, these are the ones that are positive," he said. "The ones that are negative are those sitting around listening to the 24-hour news channels."