Senate Democrats plan to focus on defending vulnerable incumbents.

Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand told Dome that their strategy is to maintain the 31-19 margin that has kept Democrats in power in that chamber.

"We're always watching for opportunities," he said. "But we're mainly intent on protecting our incumbents and maintaining the margin that we have."

Rand disagreed with some of the Republicans' wish list. He said that "a very spirited race" among five Democrats in the 5th District would help the party select a "standard bearer."

"You have people who have never run before," he said. "The primary will serve to get name recognition and get their ideas out. I don't think that will be damaging."

He also thought that the presidential race, which has favored Republicans in the 47th District in the past, may not be much of a plus in the rematch between Sen. Joe Sam Queen and former Sen. Keith Presnell.

"I would say that this time, the equation favors us," he said. 

Republicans have high hopes in nine state Senate races.

Jim Blaine, director of the N.C. Senate Republican Committee, gave Dome a breakdown of the races he thinks the GOP will do well in, based on the filings so far.

Fifth: Rep. Louis Pate Jr., a Republican, faces the winner of a five-way Democratic primary for the open seat of retiring Democratic Sen. John Kerr.

Eighth: Former Wilmington Star-News reporter Bettie Fennell, a Republican, faces Democratic Sen. R.C. Soles Jr. in a district that is changing demographically.

Ninth: Wilmington attorney Michael Lee, a Republican, has filed to run against Democratic Sen. Julia Boseman, who has not yet filed for re-election.

24th: Commercial real estate broker Rick Gunn Jr., a Republican, squares off against Democratic Sen. Tony Foriest.

43rd: Realtor Kathy Harrington, wife of former Rep. Michael Harrington, faces Democratic Sen. David Hoyle in a district that leans Republican.

45th: Boone dentist Jerry Butler has signed up to face Democratic Sen. Steve Goss. Other Republicans may file in this race as well.

46th: State Rep. Debbie Clary, a Republican, faces either Phil Clark or Keith Melton for the seat of Democratic Sen. Walter Dalton, who is running for lieutenant governor.

47th: Former state Sen. Keith Presnell, a Republican, faces Democratic Sen. Joe Sam Queen in a seemingly never-ending grudge match.

50th: Republican Susan C. Pons, who works at a Christian training center, faces Democratic Sen. John Snow.

Bob Orr has given $3,640 to Republican candidates and groups in the past decade.

According to a quick review of campaign contributions listed on Open Secrets and Follow the Money, the Republican gubernatorial candidate has not given as much as his competitors.

As with Fred Smith and Pat McCrory, the biggest beneficiary was the Republican Party. From 1999 to 2001, Orr gave the state party's executive committee $1,840.

He also gave $500 to Congressional candidate Virginia Johnson in 2004, $500 to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign in 2007, $300 in total to Keith Presnell's bid for state Senate in 2005 and 2006, and $250 to Supreme Court Justice Mark Martin's campaign in 2005.

Orr also gave $250 to his own campaign in 2001—which is actually $156 less than Smith gave him for that same race.

* U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole tours Bonner Bridge with N.C. Senate leader Marc Basnight; agrees that replacing it should be a top priority. (The Virginian-Pilot)

* Gov. Mike Easley signs a pardon of innocent for Dwayne Allen Dail, who spent 18 years in prison for a rape he didn't commit. It's Easley's fifth pardon. (N&O)

* State Sen. Joe Sam Queen, a Democrat, to face off against former Sen. Keith Presnell for the third time; last race was among the most high-priced in the state. (AC-T)

* Thirty protesters show up at the Clemmons office of U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx over her vote against the expansion of the SCHIP health insurance program. (W-SJ)