Now, Dome isn’t sure whether U.S. Rep. Brad Miller got his penchant for witty zingers from his mom, but Margaret Miller did serve on her college debate team more than 70 years ago.

Ms. Miller was featured in her hometown newspaper Sunday with a story about her varsity letter in debate from Mars Hill College, Barb Barrett reports. The college has pledged to replace the long-gone cloth varsity debate letter.

The congressional mom, looking "amazingly fresh for her 95 years," received a visit and a pink fleece jacket from the college’s president last week, according to the Fayetteville Observer. Brad Miller, a Raleigh Democrat, was present for the gathering in his mother’s honor.

U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre is looking at a Senate run.

The Lumberton Democrat confirmed to Fayetteville Observer reporter Paul Woolverton that he is thinking about challenging U.S. Sen. Richard Burr in 2010.

"We have had several people encourage me to consider running for the U.S. Senate, and make very positive comments about that possibility.

"So we'll take a look at it. You never say 'never' to those kinds of possibilities.

As a Blue Dog Democrat from Down East, McIntyre would have an advantage in a crucial demographic. He also has a decent campaign war chest since he hasn't had a competitive race in a number of cycles.

On the down side, he would be vulnerable to a more liberal challenger in the primary, does not have a statewide profile and may have rusty campaigning skills.

His statement is the most positive so far of the major potential recruits.

Welcome to North Carolina, D.C. Reporter.

We're glad that your national publication found our state worthy of coverage, especially with all that stuff going on in your usual haunts: New York, California and Iowa.

In the past, some of your colleagues have made dumb mistakes when writing about North Carolina, so here are a few tips:

THE OBSERVERS: A lot of our newspapers have similar names: The Charlotte Observer, the Raleigh News & Observer and the Fayetteville Observer. Try to keep them straight.

RALEIGH, DURHAM: Yes, the hyphen at the airport is confusing. But there is no such place as Raleigh-Durham. They're separate cities. (Winston-Salem is one city, though.)

TAR HEEL: That's two words. It's the name of UNC-Chapel Hill (called Carolina or North Carolina in sports) team and one name for residents of the state.

NORTH, SOUTH: We're not South Carolina, and we hate being confused with it. For starters, Charleston is in South Carolina; Charlotte, in North Carolina.

BARBECUE: That's a noun, not a verb. It's made with pork. There's two kinds: Eastern style has a vinegar sauce; Lexington style, a tomato-based sauce.

That should cover the basics. Now get to reporting!

Michelle Obama may be headed to North Carolina.

The first lady is expected to be in town to visit with military families at Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base, according to a story in the Fayetteville Observer.

The article quotes an unnamed source within the Cumberland County Democratic Party who works with city and military affairs.

The visit would be next Thursday.

Another state political blogger has joined the scene.

Longtime political reporter Paul Woolverton of the Fayetteville Observer is writing a blog called The People's Business about the legislature and other issues.

So far, posts have highlighted a bill that would ban texting while driving, noted new electronic archives of House audio and dashed hopes about a Interstate 295 loop around Fayetteville.

Woolverton joins the growing ranks of reporter-bloggers in the capital press corps, including Mark Binker of the Greensboro News-Record, Jordan Schrader of the Asheville Citizen-Times, Barry Smith of the Burlington Times-News, Jack Betts of the Charlotte Observer and Laura Leslie of WUNC radio.

Not to mention, yours truly, the Legion of Dome. 

Sen. Tony Rand says state government needs to become more efficient.

At a budget discussion at Fayetteville Technical Community College Monday, the Senate majority leader said that state leaders will need to be more prudent given the current financial crisis, according to the Fayetteville Observer.

"We've thrown money away in the past," he said. "Now, we’re going to make sure we can justify every penny we spend."

State Republican leaders are sending a link to the story to reporters, pointing out Rand's comment. 

With typical Randian flair, he also compared trimming the state budget to "pruning orchards" in order to increase the yield.

Jeanette Council has endorsed Barack Obama.

The Cumberland County commissioner, who is a Democratic Party superdelegate, told the Fayetteville Observer that she was backing Obama.

"I would have no problem voting for either of the two," she said. "But of the two, I think Barack Obama is the better candidate."

Earlier, she told the newspaper that she was not sure if she would make a decision before Election Day

The announcement brings Obama's North Carolina superdelegate count to seven. Rival Hillary Clinton has two. 

Previously: Council spotted at Obama event in Fayetteville. 

Under the Dome is disappointed we weren't spun.

An e-mail from House Speaker Joe Hackney's office obtained by Americans for Prosperity reveals some of the speaker's staff's plans for spinning the press on the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. incentives.

Hackney spokesman Bill Holmes writes about efforts to get favorable coverage from the Fayetteville Observer, WTVD, WRAL, The Charlotte Observer and Freedom Newspapers of Eastern North Carolina.

He also notes that Rep. Rick Glazier, sponsor of the incentives bill, talked to an N&O reporter.

But Jonathan Cox, the ink-stained wretch in question, said that was simply a phone call the day of Gov. Mike Easley's veto that came too late to add any detail to his story.

Glazier, he said, was returning a call from two days earlier. So much for the spin machine.

The full text of the e-mail after the jump.

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The Fayetteville Observer's editorial board has called for Rep. Thomas Wright to resign.

In an unsigned editorial today, the newspaper said the campaign finance irregularities are not about the Wilmington Democrat's guilt or innocence, but the legislature's "battered reputation."

That's why Wright should step down until the charges are resolved. If he's cleared, he can run again. Until then, the institution is more important than the man.

As usual, a full list is below the jump.

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