Sen. Kay Hagan's office says she misspoke Wednesday when she told reporters that she had forwarded three names to the White House as potential judicial nominations for the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

In fact, the senator is in ongoing discussions with White House counsel about several possibilities, said Dave Hoffman, Hagan's spokesman, Barb Barrett reports. So while names have been talked about, there actually is no three-person short list for the appeals court, Hoffman said.

Hagan's statewide advisory panel also has agreed to speak with anyone who has expressed interest in the 4th Circuit, he said.

He said that in late June, Hagan's office will send the White House three-person lists — and make the lists public — for other federal judicial openings for roles such as U.S. District Judge and U.S. attorney.

Those recommendations are what Hagan was thinking of when she misspoke about the appeals court, Hoffman said.

Sen. Kay Hagan has also wagered on tonight's game.

The Greensboro Democrat bet Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin over the NCAA men's basketball championship game tonight between Carolina and Michigan State.

If the Tar Heels lose, Hagan will give the two Michigan Democrats barbecue, Cheerwine and dessert from Cheesecakes by Alex, a Greensboro baker.

If Michigan loses, they'll give her Little Caesar's Pizza, Verner's ginger ale and Mackinac Island fudge.

"They're trying to make us gain our campaign weight back," joked Hagan spokesman Dave Hoffman.

Previously: Gov. Beverly Perdue bets Michigan governor.

U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan is seeking some outside help on judicial appointments.

The Greensboro Democrat said that she will create a four-member panel from around the state to vet candidates for federal judgeships and the state's three U.S. attorneys.

"This committee will be comprised of experienced professionals from across the state and will help ensure that the most qualified and competent candidates are ultimately selected for recommendation," she said in a statement.

Spokesman Dave Hoffman said the committee will include one member each from the eastern, western and central regions of the state and a chairman from anywhere. He did not know who would serve on it yet.

Hagan is particularly concerned with finding a North Carolinian to serve on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, a post that has been held up in the past because of partisan differences between the state's senators.

According to the Legal Times, Hagan met with several possible nominees earlier this year.

A vetting process is not uncommon. The Virginia Bar interviewed potential nominees at the request of that state's two senators.

U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan wants to get another federal judge appointed from North Carolina.

The problem: It's not entirely up to her.

North Carolina currently has only one judge on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers the Carolinas, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. 

As former Domester David Ingram has reported, some senators think the state should get as many as three of the four vacant seats.

Over the past 15 years, partisan fighting between the state's senators has prevented that. Under longstanding tradition, the minority senator can foil a nomination by withholding a permission form known as a "blue slip." 

In a letter to the media today, Hagan said she wants to move beyond the partisanship, but that will depend on whether Sen. Richard Burr or other Republicans in the area covered by the Fourth Circuit agree.

Dave Hoffman, a spokesman for Hagan, said she'll do "everything in her power" to prevent that.

"Senator Hagan is committed to working with her colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure that we have judges who can get appointed," he said.

After the jump, Hagan's letter.

   Comments (0)

North Carolina's U.S. senators are now whips.

Last week, Sen. Richard Burr announced that he would be chief deputy whip for the Republican Party, overseeing six regional deputy whips.

Today, Sen. Kay Hagan's spokesman Dave Hoffman confirmed she will be a deputy whip for the Democrats.

As the name suggests perhaps a bit too graphically, the whip's job is to make sure senators vote the right way on certain legislation and show up for key votes.

Hat Tip: Mark Binker

State Sen. Kay Hagan's campaign wasn't thrilled with the Politico article about the U.S. Senate race.

Spokesman Dave Hoffman says the article describes Hagan as "mean."

The article, though, mostly points out that Hagan isn't using the sweet-tea approach of incumbent GOP Sen. Elizabeth Dole's "bless your hearts" but rather is pushing back hard against Dole's record, Barb Barrett reports.

The Politico article did wrongly report that the Hagan campaign attacked Dole in the infamous "rocking chairs" ad, but that was corrected in an online version. The ad actually was put out this summer by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, run by U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York.

Although the DSCC works independently of Hagan's campaign by law, she was encouraged to run by the organization and has been helped by the group in meeting fundraising contacts.

Hoffman says it is the Republican senator who has gone negative.

"Dole went negative first," he said. Dole’s campaign put out an ad last week comparing Hagan to a yappy dog, with a narrator intoning, "That dog don't hunt."

"I think it's disgusting. She's not yappy," Hoffman said. "Fighting hard for North Carolinians is not annoying. It's not yappy."

In a press release, Hagan spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan said with the ad Dole is "calling Kay Hagan a female dog."

"I think what she really means speaks for itself," she said.