* Washington columnist Stuart Rothenberg thinks U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell "could see a steep drop-off" in 2010 from certain "demographic groups."

* U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx wins "Defender of Liberty" award for 100 percent voting-record rating in 2008 from American Conservative Union.

* Hundreds of protesters gather at the legislative building to argue against higher taxes; speakers include Mary Katharine Ham and Joe the Plumber.

* Former Republican auditor Les Merritt and former Raleigh City Councilman John Odom endorse Chad Adams for N.C. Republican Party chairman.

The percentage of money in the campaign for N.C. Commissioner of Insurance that came from industries regulated by that office plummeted from 66 percent in 2004 to 5 percent this year, according to N.C. Voters for Clean Elections.

The figure dropped because both candidates in the commissioner's race chose to accept public financing, a pilot program in North Carolina in which the candidates receive public funding but must agree to fundraising limits. Commissioner-elect Wayne Goodwin, a Democrat, received $22,000 from members of industries regulated by the office, such as insurance, bail bondsmen and manufactured housing companies. Republican John Odom collected $9,600 from contributors in that category, according to the clean elections group's report.

Goodwin raised a total of $492,000, while Odom raised $433,000. 

The industry money for both candidates accounts for 5 percent of what they both raised, wrote Chase Foster, of the clean elections group.

By comparison, outgoing Commissioner Jim Long had no opponent in 2004 but still raised $354,000, two-thirds of which came from regulated industries. Candidates in lower tier races have long complained that businesses and groups regulated by their prospective offices are among the few who show interest in their campaigns, so they have no option but to raise money from them.

This year most of the candidates' money, $380,000 each, came from a public grant. In exchange they could only raise money for a limited time period early in the year and could not accept contributions greater than $200.

Insurance Commissioner-elect Wayne Goodwin said he's got a lot of work to do, but first up will be addressing the coastal insurance crisis.

Goodwin, a Democrat and chief assistant in the commissioner's office, defeated Republican challenger John Odom.

Goodwin said he feels deadline pressure to address the insurance market on the state's coastal property. The government-created insurance plan — the Beach Plan — was intended as a safety net for coastal property owners, but it has become the dominant form of insurance. It has only a fraction of the money it would need to cover damage from a major hurricane.

"I've described it as a ticking time bomb and it is," Goodwin said. 

Goodwin says he wants to have a set of recommendations ready to address the plan in time for the next hurricane season.

A group of veterans declared their support for John McCain today.

At a half-hour press conference in front of the state legislature, nearly 40 volunteers and members of Veterans for McCain withstood 97 degree heat as they argued the presumptive Republican presidential nominee has the right plan for Iraq.

A half-dozen veterans of the Korean, Vietnam and Iraq wars said that McCain's support for a troop surge in Iraq was politically unpopular but successful and argued that Democratic nominee Barack Obama would put politics above the success of the war.

"Senator McCain stood by the soldiers, and that's why I'm standing by him today," said John Turner, 33, a former Army artillery officer from Raleigh.

The rally was one of a series around the country arranged by the McCain campaign to take part of the media spotlight off Obama, who is touring the Middle East and Europe. Veterans for McCain organizer Ric Killian is hosting an event in Charlotte.

More after the jump.

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The races for open seats for lieutenant governor and state treasurer could be close contests, according to the latest results from Public Policy Polling.

But while most incumbents for Council of State offices enjoy "solid leads" in the latest survey, State Auditor Les Merritt, a Republican, trails Democratic challenger Beth Wood.

PPP surveyed 616 likely voters on May 8-9. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.

The full results in the various Council of State races after the jump:

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Nine statewide candidates will accept public financing in their campaigns.

At a press conference held by N.C. Voters for Clean Elections outside the state Capitol today, nearly all of the three Republicans and six Democrats said that the financing program will make them less reliant on special interests.

The group includes two incumbents, Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson and Republican state Auditor Les Merritt. It also includes insurance commissioner candidate Wayne Goodwin, who said his 2004 campaign for labor commissioner was eye-opening.

"While candidates used to visit all the county seats across this great state and visit every courthouse sheriff and stop in to enjoy an RC Cola at a country store or go to umpteen barbecue rallies around the state, in 2004 I learned how campaigning had succumbed to the money chase," he said.

He said he spent up to eight hours a day, six days a week, calling donors.

The other participants include superintendent candidates Eddie Davis and Eric H. Smith, auditor candidates Beth Wood and Fred Aikens and insurance commissioner candidates John Odom and David Smith.

David Smith did not attend the rally due to a family emergency.

Jim Long's hand is going to get hot soon.

First, the longtime insurance commissioner passed the torch to his handpicked choice for successor, deputy commissioner Wayne Goodwin, at a last-minute filing Friday.

Then, he took the torch back so he could pass it again at this morning's Council of State's meeting, taking a moment of personal privilege to introduce Goodwin to the other top statewide elected officials, who probably remember him from his 2004 run for labor commissioner.

"It's time to move on and pass the torch to the younger generation," Long said.

He then introduced Goodwin, who waved to the audience.

The actual torch will be passed after the contested Democratic primary, in which Goodwin faces David C. Smith, and the November election, in which the winner will face John Odom.

Two more last-minute filings came in this morning.

Former House Speaker Richard Morgan filed as a Republican candidate for superintendent of public instruction, and former Raleigh City Councilman John Odom has filed as a Republican candidate for insurance commissioner.

Morgan faces Tryon resident Joe Johnson in the Republican primary and either Superintendent June Atkinson or N.C. Association of Educators president Eddie Davis; Odom faces assistant insurance commissioner Wayne Goodwin in the general election.

Morgan's wife, Cindy, is running for state senator.

Jim Long will not run for re-election.

The longtime Democratic insurance commissioner will not seek a seventh term in office.

Wayne Goodwin, a former four-term state representative and failed candidate for labor commissioner in 2004, filed today to replace Long, shortly before the noon deadline.

He was accompanied to the State Board of Elections by Long and by his wife, state Rep. Melanie Wade Goodwin, a Richmond County Democrat.

When asked about his failure to file so far, Long spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson said Wednesday that Long intended to file for re-election on Friday.

Long, 67, was first elected insurance commissioner in 1986. He is the longest-serving member of the Council of State.

"I felt it was time to 'pass the torch' to a new generation of leadership for the Department," Long wrote in an e-mail to supporters.

Update: Former Raleigh City Councilman John Odom has also filed.