U.S. Rep. David Price is heading to Southeast Asia this week.

The Chapel Hill Democrat will lead a bipartisan delegation to monitor the work of the Department of Homeland Security in the Phillippines, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

The trip is designed to give members of Congress a better understanding of the department's coordination with foreign governments to secure U.S.-bound cargo and work on anti-terrorism efforts and international adoption issues.

The delegation includes Democratic Reps. Sam Farr, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Mike Honda and Mazie Hirono as well as Republican Rep. John Carter.

Most of the members sit on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which Price chairs.

They were scheduled to meet with Phillippines president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, among other foreign leaders, during the trip.

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory has picked a veteran Tar Heel political operative to run his gubernatorial campaign.

Richard Hudson is returning from Washington, where he was chief of staff to U.S. Rep. John Carter of Texas, who is secretary of the Republican Conference.

Hudson is well known in state GOP circles, reports Rob Christensen. Hudson served as communications director of the state Republican Party in the late 1990s, before moving on to manage the campaigns and serve on the congressional staff of U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes of Concord. Hudson also worked in the 2000 gubernatorial campaign of Richard Vinroot.

“We wanted someone who had campaign experience — someone who has statewide knowledge and who can manage the day-to-day campaign,” said Jack Hawke, McCrory’s chief consultant.

The McCrory campaign has also hired Neal Harrington as finance director. Harrington was formerly the finance director for U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick of Charlotte.