* Candidates for N.C. Republican Party chair answer questions from Carolina Politics Online about what they'd do in the top job.

* Former Raleigh Mayor Tom Fetzer announces the backing of former Wake County GOP chairman David Robinson, an erstwhile competitor.

* Rudy Giuliani's son loses his lawsuit over being kicked off Duke's golf team; judge cites "Caddyshack" in legal opinion. 

* Greensboro blogger Joe Guarino discovers that U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx is of Italian descent and grew up in the Bronx.

FLYING THE COOP? Attorney General Roy Cooper was suddenly ubiquitous this week: Announcing the number of domestic violence homicides, speaking at an event for his father's new memoir, filing a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the Voting Rights Act. Now that U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler is out of the race, is it his moment to announce a run for U.S. Senate in 2010 against Sen. Richard Burr?

UNDER PRESSURE: Moderate and conservative Democrats in North Carolina might be forgiven for thinking it's campaign season again. TV ads targeted Sen. Kay Hagan and Rep. Bob Etheridge and a radio ad singled out Rep. Mike McIntyre. Their aim? Persuade the lawmakers to support President Obama's proposed budget. So far, no state Republicans have faced similar ad campaigns.

IN OTHER NEWS: The race for head of the N.C. GOP narrowed a little as David Robinson of Raleigh dropped out. ... After an earlier bill got held up over a pronoun problem, Sen. Richard Stevens filed a bill calling for gender-neutral language in state laws. ... Carolina would get a little less blue under two bills that would allow liquor tastings and let ABC stores open on Sundays. ... Speaking of alcohol, an "M. Easley" whose address was the governor's mansion turned up on a list of people who never got their shipment from Carolina Wine Co. before it went bankrupt.

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.

Marcus Kindley says he's a CEO, not a stockbroker.

The candidate for chair of the N.C. Republican Party took exception to a recent Dome item which identified him by the latter job title.

"That's kind of like calling your editor a mailboy down in the mailroom," he said.

Kindley noted that he is the longtime chief executive officer of Intercarolina Financial Services, a Greensboro firm with 70 employees.

He faces Wake County GOP chair David Robinson and former state Sen. Woody White. Current chair Linda Daves is not running again.

Former state Sen. Woody White of Wilmington over the weekend announced his candidacy for the state GOP chairmanship.

White, 39, is a lawyer and former law partner of Patrick Ballantine, the GOP nominee for governor in 2004, Rob Christensen reports.

He has been weighing a bid for several weeks, but announced his candidacy in a letter sent to members of the state GOP Executive Committee.

State Chair Linda Daves has said she will not seek another term at the state Republican convention in June.

Also running is David Robinson, chairman of the Wake County Republican Party, and Guilford county stockbroker Marcus Kindley.

Previously: White considering a run

David Robinson, chairman of the Wake County Republican Party, announced today that he wants to be the chairman of the state GOP.

Robinson issued a press release announcing his candidacy to be state GOP chairman. He said the state party should "challenge government corruption and liberal agendas" every day of the year.

State Chairwoman Linda Daves has said she will not seek re-election to another term. Former Lee County Commissioner Chad Adams and former state Sen. Woody White are considering runs. Guilford County stockbroker Marcus Kindley has announced that he is seeking the post.