Many Democrats are celebrating tonight that Sen. Elizabeth Dole looks to be defeated.

But a few may have some regrets.

That would be: State Rep. Grier Martin and U.S. Rep. Brad Miller, who were openly recruited to run against Dole earlier this year and took a pass.

Others who had been under consideration: Attorney General Roy Cooper, Gov. Mike Easley and state Treasurer Richard Moore.

Moore, who lost a contentious Democratic primary to Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, would have been a particularly strong candidate given the recent economic troubles.

Still, there's no discounting the role that gender may have played. Any of the men above might have faced a trickier time running against Dole.

Other long shots: Retired Gen. Hugh Shelton and First Lady Mary Easley.

Who is consulting for the N.C. Military Foundation?

The nonprofit started by Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue in 2006 to promote defense spending in North Carolina runs on a tight budget, relying on outside consultants.

Here's a quick sketch of their major consultants:

Retired Major Gen. Mike Davidson: Former assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Gen. Hugh Shelton.

Hon. Mike Walker: Former acting Secretary of the Army in 1998 and Undersecretary of Defense.

Meg Ryan O'Donnell: President of Winning Strategies, a Raleigh communications firm.

Jimmy Broughton: Former chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms and federal lobbyist with Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice.

Mark Harkins: Former chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Brad Miller and lobbyist with Womble Carlyle.

As lobbyists on military issues, Broughton and Harkins also work for Blackwater Worldwide, a controversial security contractor based in Moyock.

Executive Director Will Austin says he met with Blackwater in the past, but the foundation does not typically promote specific military contractors, instead focusing on the state's overall military friendliness.

"We don't have a relationship with them," he said.

The first boos of the night came for Mike Easley.

As Hillary Clinton was going through her list of thank-yous at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, she mentioned former party chairwoman Barbara Allen, party chairman Jerry Meek and the state's Congressional and legislative Democrats.

But when she named Easley — and specifically his endorsement of her — some in the crowd began to boo.

It was not clear exactly why they were booing, but based on calls to the governor's office, some were upset that he took a stand in the contentious race.

Clinton then praised Easley's wife, Mary, and former governors Terry Sanford and Jim Hunt.

By then, the crowd settled down.

Later, she praised John Edwards and his focus on ending poverty, promising to appoint a Cabinet-level officer to work on the issue.

Edwards has not endorsed in the presidential race, but his wife, Elizabeth, has praised Clinton's health care proposal.

She also name-checked former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Hugh Shelton, a native North Carolinian who has endorsed her. 

Hillary Clinton will spend more time in Indiana this week.

The Democratic presidential candidate will be in North Carolina on Thursday, touring Jacksonville, Fayetteville and Asheville with retired Gen. Hugh Shelton, Barb Barrett reports.

That matches her campaign tactic of hitting rural areas and military bases.

But with Pennsylvania's primary being held today, Clinton is spending more time focusing on the other major upcoming primary in Indiana.

She'll be stumping in Indiana on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, pitching "Solutions for the American Economy" in Bloomington, Gary, Fort Wayne, East Chicago and South Bend.

Hillary Clinton's campaign released the names of its North Carolina steering committee, ranging from poet Maya Angelou to Hugh Shelton, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The list was announced at a teleconference held by Tom Hendrickson, a former state Democratic chariman; former Ambassador Jeanette Hyde, and the Rev. Brenda Stevenson of Charlotte.

"I know Hillary has the diplomatic skills," said Hyde, who was appointed ambassador to Barbados by President Clinton. "She has the knowledge. She has traveled around the world. I beleive she can help mend some of the problems we have in the world."

The endorsements include many people long associated with the moderate, pro-business wing of the state Democratic Party and with Govs. Jim Hunt and Terry Sanford.

Clarification: Hunt is not on the steering committee, but some of his associates are.

More names after the jump.

   Comments (3)

Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and North Carolina native Gen. Hugh Shelton is among 19 retired military officers pledging support to Hillary Clinton.

Shelton made headlines in 2004 for his decision not to support then Democratic presidential nominee Gen. Wesley Clark. Clark did not win the nomination, but joins Shelton on the list of Clinton supporters.

In a press release, the officers repeat Clinton's phrase "who can be Commander-in-Chief on day one," and cite her experience on the Senate Armed Services Committee as reason for their support.

Former President Bill Clinton will meet with key supporters later today at a reception at the Raleigh home of former Ambassador Jeannette Hyde.

“It’s actually for people willing to endorse Hillary Clinton or be on the statewide steering committee,” Hyde told Rob Christensen. “It’s kind of a briefing on the campaign and a thank you.”

Clinton will attend the private event after first appearing at public events in Charlotte and Cary.

Helping put the event together is former state Democratic chairman Tom Hendrickson, a Raleigh businessman. Among those expected to attend are former state Democratic chairwoman Barbara Allen, and Jane Patterson, a former secretary of administration.

Among the North Carolinians expected to endorse Clinton — although not attending tonight’s event — are retired Charlotte bank executive Hugh McColl; Hugh Shelton, the former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff; and poet Maya Angelou, according to Hyde.

Now that U.S. Rep. Brad Miller has bowed out, who will run against Sen. Elizabeth Dole?

A few of the Democratic names that have been floated to Dome in recent days are not exactly A-list. They include:

Forsyth County Commissioner Ted Kaplan, a former state Senate majority leader; Greensboro Sen. Kay Hagan, who had been rumored to replace Miller if he ran; Rep. Grier Martin, now in his second term; and four-term Buncombe County commissioner David Young, who now sits on the University of North Carolina Board of Governors.

Among the A-listers who've already said they aren't interested: Gov. Mike Easley; his wife, Mary; Attorney General Roy Cooper, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, state Treasurer Richard Moore and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Hugh Shelton.

North Carolina Democrats are "beginning to zero in" on Attorney General Roy Cooper as a possible Senate candidate, according to a Washington, D.C. newspaper.

Roll Call reported ($) on Monday that "a state party official" confirmed that Cooper is on a short list of names that includes Gov. Mike Easley, state Sen. Kay Hagan, state Rep. Grier Martin and former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Hugh Shelton.

As Dome has noted before, U.S. Rep. Brad Miller is the only one who will say he is seriously considering a run against U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, while Easley is not likely and Cooper says he likes his current job.

A Republican quoted in the story said they are not worried about Dole's challenger:

But Rebecca Fisher, spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Democrats are just aimlessly throwing pasta against the wall to see what sticks.