An ad linking Kay Hagan to a "godless" group almost didn't happen.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole's campaign did not think that her Democratic rival would actually go through with a fundraiser at the home of a man known for promoting atheist causes.

Even then, Dole's campaign figured the ad would run only as a last resort.

That's according to Fred Davis, the Hollywood-based media consultant who produced the ad,  which became one of the most talked about commercials in the country during the election season.

Davis insists the ad was not mention to question Hagan's faith.  

"It was about her judgment," he said. "I never questioned her faith. A lot of people questioned that in hindsight. But that's not the point." 

He said the ad was held until the last week of the election, when polls showed Dole behind by eight points. Davis said they ran the mildest version of the ad. (N&O)

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole plans to spend a half-million dollars advertising.

The Salisbury Republican, faced by three recent polls showing her with lower-than-expected approval ratings, will spend the money over the next two weeks airing an ad on illegal immigration, Rob Christensen reports.

The ad was produced by Fred Davis, a Los Angeles media consultant who handled Dole's TV ads during her 2002 Senate campaign as well as George W. Bush's 2004 re-election campaign and the campaigns of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker.

Her Democratic opponent, state Sen. Kay Hagan, does not have the funding to run her own ad now. While Dole reported having $3.1 million on hand in mid-April, Hagan had spent much of her money on the contested primary, leaving her with just $317,311.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has sent out two fundraising letters on Hagan's behalf, according to Jennifer Duffy, an analyst with the Cook Political Report. 

Public Policy Polling recently found that Dole is ahead overall because of her strength with voters on the issue of illegal immigration. 

Fred Davis said turnout at the Chavis Center in southeastern Raleigh today has been better than expected.

The chief judge for the voting location said that typically 60 voter cast ballots by 1:30 p.m. This year 234 voters had cast ballots by the same time.

Davis, who has volunteered as an election official for the last three presidential elections, also said one-stop voting has affected the turnout.

"The one-stop voting cut down our numbers somewhat," he said. "A lot of people that normally vote today voted one-stop."

Many people found one-stop voting more convenient since they could show up at any Raleigh location, register and vote at the same time, Davis said.

But the same process has led to some confusion, with voters thinking they could show up Tuesday and register, he added.

Davis said the day is far from over.

"A lot of people will come in to vote when they get off work and after school," he said. "I think we've still got a lot to go. I'm hoping it's going to be a good rest of the day.

"You dread it in the morning when you get up," Davis said. "But around this time of the day, you like it more and more."

A former consultant to U.S. Sen. John McCain is working for Bill Graham.

According to the Hotline blog of the National Journal, the Arizona senator's former chief creative consultant, Fred Davis, is working on Graham's bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.

In addition, he is working on U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole's re-election bid, as well as Senate races in Tennessee and Oklahoma in 2008. He worked for the Bush campaign in 2004.

Davis' Hollywood-based media firm, Strategic Perception, made television ads for Graham's N.C. Conservatives United advocacy group last year in its campaign to cap the gas tax.

His firm has also signed up to help with U2 frontman Bono's anti-poverty ONE campaign.