Tony Rand doesn't want to drop out of the Electoral College.

Though a bill is before the legislature this session to join North Carolina to a national compact to elect the president by popular vote, the Senate majority leader told Dome he's not interested.

"I don't think that's really a short session kind of bill," he said. "I think that would be one where we'd want to have a little more time to think about the implications."

As a Democrat, Rand said he wishes North Carolina had not been a consistent red state since 1976.

"It pains me deeply, but that's not the system's fault," he said.

The Fayetteville senator reserved the right to change his mind, though, since he's set aside time this Sunday to watch the HBO movie "Recount" about the 2000 election troubles in Florida. If that doesn't do it, he said the fall elections might.

"Call me in November right after the presidential election," he said. 

Forget about Gary.

The next Hollywood Cooper is Roy.

Cable network HBO plans to create a movie based on the Duke lacrosse case, the entertainment magazine Variety reported Tuesday.

The movie will be based on the book, "Until Proven Innocent," by blogger K.C. Johnson and Stuart Taylor Jr.

It will no doubt climax with Cooper's exoneration of the three lacrosse players by the state attorney general. For now, little is known about the casting of Cooper or other players in the case.

Readers, care to make suggestions to HBO?