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FIRST LADY BACKS BILL TO REGULATE PUPPY MILLS: Venturing into public policy for the first time as First Lady, Ann McCrory issued an open letter to lawmakers supporting House Bill 930 to establish standards for dog breeders. The bill is a weakened version of the original legislation which sought to crack down on puppy mills. "| am writing to thank you for your unanimous support of l-louse Bill 930. Passing legislation to establish basic standards of care for large commercial dog breeding facilities is a very important issue to me, and to people across our state," Ann McCrory wrote in the letter. "| especially wish to Representatives Saine, McGrady and Brown for their leadership on this issue. l hope you and other members of the General Assembly will continue to advocate for this bill, and other legislation establishing higher standards for Commercial breeders. These policies increase our quality of life in North Carolina and ensure better care for dogs across the state. You have my full support."

TODAY AT THE STATEHOUSE: A House committee will consider a Taxpayer Bill of Rights measure, known as TABOR, that would restrict state spending. Its hugely controversial and produced varied results. Other legislative committees will consider trimming environmental regulations and altering rules governing midwifery. On the Senate floor, lawmakers will hear a bill to prevent undercover whistleblower operations at farms and processing plants. And in the House, a bill about cancer drugs that split Republicans faces another vote, as does the LEED certification bill. Gov. Pat McCrory lists no public events.

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MUST READ: First Lady Ann McCrory shuns the public spotlight. From the story: Ann McCrory hasn’t fully embraced McCrory's political career. Nor has she opposed it. Now, after her husband’s three city council terms, seven terms as mayor and two tries at the governor’s office, she has moved into a late 19th century mansion at the center of government for a state of more than 9 million people. There, the demands on her time – and the questions about her own life and marriage – will immeasurably grow. However, those who know the new first lady say there are no guarantees that her public role will grow right along with them.

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First Lady Ann McCrory made a rare public appearance Thursday at the Durham Rescue Mission, reading books to children and handing out paper plate for lunch.

McCrory's handlers -- press secretary Ricky Diaz and the governor's sister, Linda Sebastian -- didn't let any reporters near her at the event and continually attempted to control photographers movements before asking them to leave the building before the end of the event, the N&O's Chuck Liddy reports.

Citing scheduling conflicts, U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell, D-N.C., has declined to commit to a locally televised debate with Republican challenger Richard Hudson.

Hudson, in a statement released by his campaign, called on the Democratic congressman “to come out of hiding.” Full story here.

More political headlines:

--Get a rundown on the feisty second presidential debate and see a fact check on the candidates' statements. Students at Queens College gave the win to the president.

--Emulating President Barack Obama, Walter Dalton also took an aggressive stance while Pat McCrory bobbed and weaved in the governor's race debate. And see an excerpt from a key exchange.

Michelle Obama started her remarks at UNC-Chapel Hill on Tuesday with a tribute to the late Bill Friday.

"I also want to take a moment just to note the passing of William Friday, a man whose visionary leadership of this university system was an inspiration to all of us who believe that education is the key to a brighter future," the first lady said. "Chancellor Friday was a courageous reformer who transformed North Carolina's public universities into a model for our country."

Read more about Michelle Obama's visit here and read her full remarks below.

Nine-year-old Will Cunningham's friends at school don't believe him when he tells them about his summer.

But now he has video proof. Will, the son of former state Sen. Cal Cunningham, and his sister Caroline, 10, met First Lady Michelle Obama in a private event in the Raleigh backyard of state Rep. Grier Martin. The Aug. 1 private visit was featured in the eight minute video introducing Obama at the Democratic convention Tuesday night. (Click below for video. 3:33 mark)

This could have been John Edwards’ convention. Don’t laugh. The switch of 135,000 votes in Ohio in 2004, and the country would be coming to the end of the second term of the Kerry-Edwards administration.

Vice President Edwards – too busy attending funerals of foreign leaders to be fooling around with a New York party girl – would have stepped from President John Kerry’s shadow and accept his party’s nomination. But now Edwards is the name that must not be mentioned at the Democratic convention in Charlotte. Rob Christensen's column here.

More political stories:

--Gov. Bev Perdue finds a new candidate to campaign for this election year.

-- DNC wrap: First Lady Michelle Obama's speech. N.C. reaction. The Latino outreach effort at convention. A photo gallery from the first day. Up next: Bill Clinton. N.C.'s oldest delegate. Jon Stewart rips Uptown. Alternate speakers platform is lonely. Harvey Gantt's legacy influences Obama. Find much more coverage here.

When Barack Obama began his quest for the presidency, one of the first people he hired was a former Eastern North Carolina debutante-turned star political fundraiser named Julianna Smoot. 

Her job four years ago was to raise a campaign war chest large enough to take on the vaunted Bill and Hillary Clinton money machine. This year, it’s to raise more money than Republican Mitt Romney. She raised $880 million for the 2008 election. So far this election cycle, she has raised $600 million. That makes her the $1.4 billion woman and counting. Read the full story here.

More political headlines from the News & Observer and Charlotte Observer:

--National political conventions used to be about just two things: Nominate a presidential ticket, then sell it to the American electorate with a big TV show. This year, there’s a third goal: Win North Carolina’s 15 electoral votes – and perhaps a second term in the White House – by using the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte as a campaign organizing tool.

First lady Mary Easley is using private money to pay state Sen. Tony Rand to be her attorney.

Rand, the Senate majority leader and a Fayetteville Democrat, has been representing Easley in her dealings with state Auditor Les Merritt, a Repbulican. A spokeswoman in the governor's office said Rand is not being paid with state funds.

Merritt released a report Thursday about two trips to Europe. In 2007, Easley and an assistant went to France. A year later, Easley and a delegation of state arts officials went to Russia and Estonia. The two trips cost taxpayers a total of $110,000. Merritt found that $45,000 worth of those expenses were unreasonable.

Merritt, who is seeking re-election, was criticized Thursday for releasing the report days before the election. He said it was only because he had tried for a month to ask Easley questions. Merritt released a list of his office's attempts.

The list shows that Merritt's staff and officials in the governor's office started trying to arrange an interview on Sept. 15. After agreeding to send questions by e-mail, Rand entered the picture on Oct. 10. On Oct. 13, Rand offerred to make his client available.

By then, Rand said, Merritt didn't want the interview.

State Auditor Les Merritt this morning said that state trips in which First Lady Mary Easley and others traveled to France, Russia and Estonia included "unreasonable and excessive expenses," including a taxpayer-funded $332 lunchtime caviar cocktail.

Taxpayers picked up hundreds of dollars in alcohol purchases, against state policy. They paid for ballet tickets, and an executive assistant to Easley billed the state $227 dollars for a linen jacket.

Merritt found that the trips to France and Russia were of questionable value to taxpayers. The audit was delayed 30 days because Merritt could not get an interview with Easley.

Easley and an assistant traveled to Paris and Compiegne, France, in May 2007. The trip was designed to celebrate a successful Monet exhibit in Raleigh that had already ended. Easley had no specific duties or obligations on the trip. One year later, a delegation of state cultural resources officials including Easley traveled to Tallin, Estonia, and St. Petersburg, Russia. In Russia, where room expenses averaged $955 a night per person, Easley and the others had one hour of official state business — a meeting with officials from the Hermitage Museum.

"Any direct benefit to the State related to the First lady's presence on the trips to France and Russia is difficult to identify," Merritt said. "For example in Russia, a simple one hour meeting with museum officials does not justify the taxpayers paying for a day-long tour of St. Petersburg plus a trip to the ballet."

An Easley spokesman said all expenses and planning arrangments were handled by the Department of Cultural Resources.

"The first lady was asked by Cultural Resources to attend and while there she did what she was asked to do by the department," said Seth Effron a spokesman for Gov. Easley. Effron declined to answer questions.

"The statement that I've given you is the statement I've given out."

A phone call to the acting head of the Cultural Resources Department was not immediately returned.

Merritt reviewed the trips after news reports in The News & Observer detailed expenses. Merritt received hotline tips that the trips were wasteful. Easley has declined requests to discuss the trips. Her husband, Gov. Mike Easley, has defended the trips, saying Europe is expensive and that just one big museum exhibit, will bring millions to the state.

Details of caviar and alcohol purchases after the jump.

Update: Post now includes response from Easley spokesman.