If North Carolina had an official rock song, what would it be?

Dome and our brother-in-blogging David Menconi opened up the lines for your suggestions earlier this week.

The top five suggestions, as judged by no particular standard, are:

* "Carolina in My Mind," by James Taylor: The hands-down frontrunner, a classic song with inoffensive lyrics and a secret darker edge.

* "Carolina Girls," by General Johnson and the Chairmen of the Board: The beach music classic that spawned a thousand "Best in the World" T-shirts.

* "Oh My Sweet Carolina," by Ryan Adams with Emmylou Harris: A touching duet about leaving the South from a guy who never visits.

* "Raleigh," by Rey Norteno: Perhaps a controversial pick with some, but few bands have sung so movingly about why they love Raleigh.

* "Wagon Wheel," by Old Crow Medicine Show: OK, so it's not rock either, but it's got to be in the running for neo-traditional bluegrass song.

Other suggestions after the jump.

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* Gov. Beverly Perdue notes that she never said she'd never furlough; state workers representatives say they're not happy but can live with it.

* Conservative blogger Chris Hayes says what Perdue did was not a furlough, it was a pay cut; speculates that's a frame to sell the plan better.

* Republican consultant Carter Wrenn defends UNC president Erskine Bowles from criticism that he's too busy to run the state colleges.

* All anyone can suggest for Dome's Official North Carolina State Rock Song contest is ... well, you know ... by James Taylor. Other suggestions?

With the legislature back in town, Under the Dome is launching the Dome Memo, to give you a quick take on what happened in government that week.

If you've been busy, or simply weren't paying attention, this will be an easy way to catch up on what people are talking about in government and political circles.

It might be the latest on the budget, an update on a controversial bill or an assessment of how the governor fared. It may dip into what our congressional delegation is up to in D.C., or what the bureaucracy is doing in Raleigh.

Here's a quick taste:

POOL REPORT: U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan may need a fact-checker. After criticizing a "men-only" pool at the Senate, the Greensboro Democrat learned she was mistaken. The pool is open to female senators, but none use it. As Dome's former editor used to say, nothing ruins a good story like checking it out.

DRILLING DOWN: Have legislative leaders stacked the deck against drilling? A task force looking into offshore drilling has so many professors it could qualify as a faculty meeting. Industry representatives? Not so many. And a co-chair has already come out very publicly against drilling.

MUSICAL CHAIRS: On second thought, Gov. Beverly Perdue does want some say on the next state Democratic chair. Hoping to avoid a fight, Perdue stayed on the sidelines until coming out for former Buncombe County commissioner David Young earlier this week.

IN OTHER NEWS: Former Tar Heel James Taylor addressed attendees at the Eastern inaugural ball in Washington as "fellow Yankees," but he made up for it by getting them to sing along to "Carolina in My Mind." ... The legislature starts next today. Topic A will be the economy. There is no Topic B. ... Perdue has already dropped in on a state mental hospital and Department of Transportation workers. Probation officers might want to look busy for the next couple weeks. ... Some Dome readers have taken offense at the term "sin tax" for cigarettes and alcohol. For now, there are no state taxes on false idol worship, bearing false witness or adultery.

James Taylor is sticking with his birthplace for the inauguration.

The North Carolina-bred singer will be performing at the Eastern Inaugural Ball at Union Station in Washington, D.C., Tuesday.

One of 10 official balls at which President-elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle will make an appearance, the regional ball is for residents of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and their guests.

Taylor was born in Massachusetts, raised in Carrboro and now lives in the Berkshires. He performed a series of shows across North Carolina in support of Obama in October, and was invited to — but did not attend — Gov. Beverly Perdue's inauguration.

He also played at a star-studded concert at the Lincoln Memorial Sunday.

North Carolinians looking for fun on Tuesday will be across town at the National Guard Armory for the Southern Inaugural Ball. They will be listening to the Derek Trucks Band with Susan Tedeschi and the Wil Gravatt Band.

To add insult to injury, Liquid Pleasure of Chapel Hill will be the other entertainer at the Eastern ball.

No word yet on whether Taylor will play "Carolina In My Mind" in his set.

Andy Griffith will make a return appearance at the governor's inaugural ceremonies.

The iconic actor, who spoke at Gov. Mike Easley's two inaugurals, will address the crowd at Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue's swearing in. He taped a television commercial for her during the campaign — "You're going to be a gooood governor!" — as he did for Easley.

"He is working with the state historians trying to pick whatever it is he wants to read," Perdue told Dome.

A few other tidbits from the incoming governor about the inaugural:

* Perdue's speech will be seven minutes long — shorter than many YouTube posts.

* She'll wear a gown to the Friday night ball, red with sparkles, made by a tailor who has made many of her clothes.

* James Taylor was invited but could not attend.

Has Barack Obama sought North Carolina authenticators?

A recent article in The New Republic about the Democratic presidential candidate's campaign strategist, David Axelrod, included this observation about his strategy to overcome race:

Axelrod believed the other crucial vehicle for winning his candidate the votes of Cleveland's white residents was what he's called "third-party authentication" — in other words, endorsements from respected individuals or institutions that whites put a lot of stock in. "David felt there almost had to be a permission structure set up for certain white voters to consider a black candidate," explains Ken Snyder, a Democratic consultant and Axelrod protégé .

In recent weeks, the Obama campaign has sent e-mails to North Carolinians from legendary UNC-Chapel Hill basketball coach Dean Smith and musician James Taylor, who also held a series of concerts for him.

Former Gov. Jim Hunt has also been a major surrogate, appearing at several events.

In addition, he's picked up endorsements from five major mainstream newspapers — the third-party authenticators specifically mentioned in The New Republic article.

Jim Hunt is campaigning again for Barack Obama.

The former governor will join former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus for two stops in Wilson and Goldsboro today. (Mabus has separate stops in Kinston and Lumberton.)

Though he stayed neutral in the Democratic primary, Hunt has campaigned vigorously for Obama in recent weeks, appearing at a James Taylor concert, speaking at the Raleigh Farmer's Market and attending a town hall meeting and a fundraiser.

In addition, his wife hosted former Sen. Jean Carnahan in Wilson for an Obama event.

In June, Hunt told Dome that he wasn't interested in a position in the Obama administration, though his schedule certainly looks like he's trying. (He's long been on the list of potential education secretaries in what turned out to be nonexistent Democratic administrations.)

Certainly, he's done more Obama events than Gov. Mike Easley, who might also be on the list.

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated the cities the two would stop in. 

A little confusion emerged at the James Taylor concert in Raleigh.

Taylor introduced "Governor Jim Hunt," who is, of course, the former governor. But since Gov. Mike Easley would have to have left the mansion and traveled three blocks to attend the show, Dome understands.

(Or maybe he's more of a Gordon Lightfoot fan...) 

During his time on stage, Hunt praised JT as "North Carolina's favorite son.".

Andy Griffith, call your office.

The James Taylor crowd at Moore Square is, OK, much as you expected: lots of midlife white people worried about retirement...but not ALL of them.

Odd man out Bruce Miller, 65, of Raleigh wore a John McCain sticker, reports Mark Johnson.

"I wanted to listen (to JT) on Obama's nickel," he said.

Any nasty comments from the crowd? No, but Barack Obama's campaign staffers took a double take before asking him to volunteer.

"They look down and say 'Oh, I guess not.' "

Teacher P.J. Pope brought her class from nearby Beyond Beginnings pre-school.

"Certainly, he's before their time," she said. (He's almost before Dome's time!!) But the kids see "an interesting mix of people."

True. There are BOTH latte and espresso drinkers here.

Pope also wants the young'uns to see political activity. She took them with her to vote this week.

We're patriotic, too!

Barack Obama's campaign made sure to temper the liberal image of its downtown Raleigh concert today by James "No Nukes" Taylor, reports Mark Johnson.

The concert for Obama, who took to wearing an American flag pin several months ago, began with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Then there was the prayer, depriving John McCain's camp of a "Godless" slur. The invocation even ended with a request that God keep "Carolina on your mind," as in the JT song.

Taylor even got in on the musical flag-waving. His opening: "America the Beautiful."