Two Google ads are up on Elizabeth Dole.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has a pro-Dole ad up on searches for her name:

Elizabeth Dole US Senate
Strong Leadership for No. Carolina.
Help Elect her to the US Senate
www.NRSC.org/Dole
North Carolina

The ad links to the same page on Dole as an anti-Hagan ad.

A second ad attacks Dole:

Dole Earns An "F"
View Senator Elizabeth Dole's
middle-class voting record here.
TheMiddleClass.org

It links to a Web site by the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy, a liberal group founded during the Civil Rights era that issues ratings for members of Congress.

A negative Google Ad is up on Kay Hagan.

A search for the Democratic Senate nominee's name returns the following ad:

Say Nay to Kay Hagan
Tax-And-Spend Liberal.
Budget Catastrophe. Stop Her Now.
www.NRSC.org/Hagan
North Carolina

The ad appears to be paid for by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, although the link takes you to a page about U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

The page www.nrsc.org/hagan returns an error message, and the black-and-white image of Hagan on the Dole page doesn't link anywhere.

Dole used to head the NRSC, which is one of the major outside groups that advertises in Senate races. It does not appear likely that the NRSC will get involved in the North Carolina race this year.

At a recent debate, Dole called on Hagan to reject outside advertising.

Les Merritt is running a Google Ad on the state Department of Transportation.

Searches for "NC DOT" or "NC Department of Transportation" bring up this ad:

Auditor Merritt
The Taxpayers' Watchdog
Getting the Job Done
www.AuditorMerritt.com
North Carolina

Richard Moore has a new Google Ad up.

Dome can't figure out what keywords bring it up, but we saw it while surfing a political Web site about the U.S. presidential race.

Here's the text of the ad:

Perdue and Transportation
Slush funds, insider deals, and a $120 million bridge in her hometown
www.RichardMoore.org

Interesting that the negative Google Ads continue, but it's more interesting that it directs readers to Moore's Web site (and a recent YouTube video about Beverly Perdue) and not one of the anti-Perdue sites he's created. 

Pat Smathers raised $63,035 by the end of 2007.

The Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor raised $61,079 from major donors, including Greensboro Business Journal publisher Douglas Copeland, state Sen. Joe Sam Queen and Haywood County Commissioner Larry Ammons.

He also raised $1,956 from donors who gave less than $50. He did not receive any money from poitical action committees, but he loaned his campaign $23,667, according to a campaign finance report filed with the State Board of Elections last week.

At the same time, he spent $82,378 on a bluegrass fundraiser, radio advertising, Beach Boys tickets, Google and Facebook ads, and mailers.

That left him with cash on hand of $5,178.

Update: Smathers' donations include $6,513 worth of in-kind contributions he gave his campaign.

State Auditor Les Merritt is now running a Google ad.

Under a search for his name, the following ad shows up:

Auditor Merritt
The Taxpayers' Watchdog -
Getting the Job Done
www.AuditorMerritt.com
North Carolina

Richard Moore has a new Google Ad up.

The ad comes up under searches for "North Carolina governor" and other general terms. It reads:

Richard Moore 4 Governor
Fixing North Carolina's problems
with fresh ideas
www.RichardMoore.org
North Carolina

Richard Moore has another Google Ad up.

If you search for "north carolina fiscal discipline," you'll get this sponsored link:

Moore 4 fiscal discipline
Richard Moore champions
fiscal discipline in public service
www.RichardMoore.org
North Carolina

The ad links to a brief post on Moore's campaign blog from May 22 in which he cites his handling of the state pension fund.

The Civitas Institute is running Google Ads.

The conservative think tank in Raleigh has apparently bought ads that show up on the side when you search Google for specific phrases.

A search for "Fred Smith," "Richard Moore" or "Jim Neal" turns up this ad: "2008 Elections Polling NC North Carolina races on the line? President, Governor, Legislature... www.nccivitas.org/poll-results" 

A search for "Bob Orr" or "Beverly Perdue" returns this: "What do NC voters think? Civitas polling results NOW. President, Governor, Legislature... www.nccivitas.org/poll-results"

The nonprofit is not running ads on searches for "Bill Graham," "Kay Hagan" or "Elizabeth Dole," however.