Cal Cunningham got some more favorable press.

The former state senator is mentioned prominently in an article in the Washington-based Roll Call newspaper about prospects for the 2010 Senate race:

Former Tar Heel state Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Meek said this week that if Cunningham were to enter the race, he would be someone who would have to be taken seriously.

"He's got an excellent profile in terms of his biography," Meek said. "He's perceived as being a little bit more liberal than, say, Mike McIntyre and Heath Shuler."

If one of the Congressmen decides to run and the DSCC and local party leaders can’t clear the field, Cunningham could be a dark horse in a primary where the electorate would be mostly hard-core Democrats in a midterm election.

"There's certainly going to be some folks who perceive Shuler or McIntyre as being too conservative," he said.

The article also notes that U.S. Reps. Heath Shuler or Mike McIntyre would be considered frontrunners if they jumped in the race, and says state Sen. Dan Blue, former Obama fundraiser Kenneth Lewis and Rep. Brad Miller are also "being mentioned." 

Candidates for state Democratic Party chair will be interviewed starting tonight.

The Young Democrats of North Carolina will host three statewide conference calls with the candidates to allow state executive board members, young Democrats and others to hear from them.

District Chairman Luke Hyde will be on a call at 8 p.m. Former Buncombe County Commissioner David Young will be on at 8:40 p.m.

And state vice chairwoman Dannie Montgomery will be on at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

For information on the calls, e-mail president@ydnc.org.

The state Democratic Executive Committee will meet in Raleigh Saturday to decide on the replacement for outgoing chairman Jerry Meek.

David Young is running for state Democratic Party chair — and he's got some strong backers.

The former Buncombe County commissioner announced the support of outgoing state chair Jerry Meek, Gov. Beverly Perdue, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, state Treasurer Janet Cowell and U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell, among others.

In an e-mail to Democrats sent today, Young said he would strengthen county parties, focus on all 100 counties, maintain staff diversity, continue technological advancement and boost fundraising.

"As a self-employed entrepreneur, I have the ability to commit the time necessary to do the job. I will be in Raleigh — and all over the state — to ensure that the job is done right," he wrote.

After an unsuccessful run for the Democratic nomination for state treasurer last spring, Young started a boutique firm offering local government consulting.

The party's executive committee will meet the Saturday after next to decide on the new chair.

District chairman Luke Hyde and vice chair Dannie Montgomery.

Update: Statesville attorney David Parker said he is no longer running for chair after having a "long, pleasant conversation with the governor" and learning of Young's candidacy.

Second Update: Hyde said he's still in the running, though he had earlier said he would not run if Perdue had a favorite.

"I made a commitment to a number of people in the party," he said. "I'm aware now that Mr. Young has several prominent and good supporters, but my word is more important to me than winning or losing."

Third Update: Young has also launched a Web site: www.davidyoungforstatechair.com.

The site was registered on Wednesday.

Fourth Update: Former Senate candidate Jim Neal has announced that he is no longer running.

In a press release, he said it was "an extremely difficult decision" based on the fact that he could not work full time in the job.

He also said that he made the decision while attending the inaugural festivities in Washington. The release does not mention Young's candidacy.

Fifth Update: Montgomery confirmed that she is still running.

"I am in it — to — win it!!!" she wrote in an e-mail to Dome. "It didn't take me two weeks before the election to decide that I want to get up every morning going to work for the NCDP leading us into the future."

Wake County Democrats will decide on a new representative next week.

The District 39 Executive Committee will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22, at the N.C. Democratic Party headquarters on Hillsborough Street.

Their job is to recommend a replacement for Rep. Linda Coleman, an Eastern Wake Democrat who was appointed head of the Office of State Personnel by Gov. Beverly Perdue last week.

"Any person that is interested in taking her seat is welcome to come and speak," said county chair Doris Weaver. "The committee may also have recommendations that they bring up."

The committee will vote that night on its recommendation, which then heads to state party chairman Jerry Meek and then Perdue, who makes the appointment.

Weaver said she's heard informally from a few people who are interested in the position, but she declined to identify them.

Former Knightdale Mayor Jeanne Bonds, Wake County commissioner Lindy Brown, one-time commissioner candidate Don Mial, Zebulon lawyer Darren Jackson and Knightdale Town Council member James Roberson are rumored to be up for consideration.

The legislature convenes Jan. 28.

Despite his years of activism, Jerry Meek has only been to one other inaugural ball.

The outgoing head of the N.C. Democratic Party said he got tickets to a breakfast at former Gov. Jim Hunt's 1997 inauguration.

Then a law student, Meek said he got a late-night phone call from Sen. Tony Rand, who offered to pay the $1,000-ticket price if Meek could find a date by the next morning.

Meek said he was enjoying meeting up with all the other activists at the inaugural ball.

"It's kind of like a family reunion," he said.

For now, Meek's been staying on the sidelines of another bit of political fun going on right now: The fight for his successor. But he said that will change.

"I think you'll find another candidate will announce tomorrow who will have widespread state support, including my own," he said.

Fashion Note: Meek's wife, Tricia Cotham, was wearing a black Jessica McClintock ballroom gown her aunt had (prematurely, as it turned out) tailored for her to wear to the Kerry-Edwards inauguration.

Richard Sullivan says he's not running.

The Democrat fundraiser had contemplated a campaign for state Democratic Party chairman, but he told Dome Tuesday that he had decided against it.

"I just decided that because of current business interests and small children at home that I couldn't do it in a full-time capacity," he said. "I may serve in another capacity."

That leaves 11th District chairman Luke Hyde, vice chair Dannie Montgomery, attorney David Parker and former Senate candidate Jim Neal in the race.

Sullivan rose in politics as a key fund raiser for Rep. Dick Gephardt and then for Bill and Hillary Clinton. He estimated that he raised a half billion dollars for Democratic candidates and causes. 

The state Democratic Executive Committee will meet in Raleigh on Jan. 31 to select among the candidates.

The winner will replace outgoing chairman Jerry Meek.

Luke Hyde, the 11th district Democratic chairman, is campaigning to suceed Jerry Meek as state party chair.

Hyde, who owns a B&B in Bryson City while practicing law part-time in Raleigh, has been moving around the state seeking support, reports Rob Christensen.

He is touting the Democrat’s success in the mountains, where Democratic Congressman Heath Shuler now holds what had been a Republican seat, as well as other Democratic inroads.

Hyde said if elected he would continue the party’s grassroots emphasis.

"I am a big fan of Jerry,” Hyde said. “He has been an excellent chairman.”

Hyde is the brother of the late Herbert Hyde, a former state party chairman and a well-known state senator. He is married to Leila Tvedt, a former WRAL TV reporter and former executive director of the Agency for Public Television who is now a vice chancellor at Western Carolina University.

The state Democratic Executive Committee meets in Raleigh on January 31 to select a new chairman. Among those consideirng running are Dannie Montgomery of Anson County, the party’s first vice chair; David Parker of Statesville, a Democratic National Committeman; Richard Sullivan of Raleigh, a former national party finance director, and former U.S. Senate candidate Jim Neal.

Former Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jim Neal is giving some thought to running for state Democratic Party chairman.

Neal, a Chapel Hill businessman, said he had initially rejected the idea when he was approached last summer. But he said he has received much more encouragement in recent days, reports Rob Christensen.

“I have told people I will consider it,” Neal said. “I want to talk to some more people. I want to make sure there is widespread support for the notion. I think it could be fun and a real challenge. It’s something I’d have to make up my mind real quickly.”

The state Democratic Executive Committee is scheduled to meet Jan. 31 in Raleigh to pick a replacement for Jerry Meek, who is stepping down after two terms.

Meek was elected without the support of Gov. Mike Easley, although traditionally party chairs have been backed by the governor. Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue has not said whether she wants to play a role in choosing the new chair.

A number of Democrats are either running for chairman of thinking about it. They include Dannie Montgomery of Anson County, the state party’s first vice chairman; David Parker of Statesville, a Democratic National committeman; Richard Sullivan of Raleigh, a former finance director for the Democratic National Committee; and Luke Hyde, the 11th congressional district Democratic chair.

David Parker is also considering a run.

The Statesville attorney and former Barack Obama superdelegate said that he may run for chairman of the N.C. Democratic Party.

"I haven't made a decision," he told Dome.

He said he'll decide based on what Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue and other top party officials think.

"I think the governor's opinion and the opinions of the Executive Committee are very important," he said.

Democratic vice chair Dannie Montgomery is already running for the post, while Raleigh fundraiser Richard Sullivan is considering a run.

Current chairman Jerry Meek steps down at the end of January.

Dannie Montgomery is running for chair of the N.C. Democratic Party.

On Nov. 30, the longtime Anson County activist, currently serving as first vice chair, e-mailed members of the party's executive committee to declare her candidacy.

"I am a Democrat and don’t need to be asked what I ALREADY know is the 'right' thing," she wrote. "As your chair, I will passionately and responsibly meet the challenges of maintaining North Carolina as a 'blue' state by recruiting and electing great candidates to lead North Carolina and the nation."

Montgomery served as Anson County Democratic Party chair from 1999 to 2005 and has been on the party's executive committee since 1999 and was a superdelegate for Barack Obama this year. She previously ran unsuccessfully for county commissioner.

She is seeking to replace Jerry Meek, who will step down at the end of January.

Montgomery is the only announced candidate for the job.

Previously: Other potential candidates for party chair.

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated the date the e-mail was sent.