A group of liberal Democrats is calling for an investigation of former Gov. Mike Easley.

The Progressive Democrats of North Carolina called today for an investigation into Easley's travel in office and involvement in his wife's job at N.C. State.

"We are chagrined by the deafening silence coming from the N.C. Democratic Party and Democratic leaders in the General Assembly concerning these allegations, and feel that it is essential for the party to speak up," president Heide Kober said in a press release.

The group warned that Democrats risk "being further discredited" on corruption issues, allowing Republicans to "feign the moral and ethical high ground."

"Failure to stand resolutely against political corruption and cronyism regardless of party, will, in no uncertain terms, invite defeat," Kober said.

The group was founded in 2004 in Greensboro. 

A Democratic activist in Raleigh has set up a Web site to grade U.S. Sen. Richard Burr.

Jerimee Richir, who until recently worked for the N.C. Democratic Party, set up GradeBurr.com, which allows users to rate the Winston-Salem Republican on issues such as the economy and education.

The scales are tipped a little against Burr, with a not particularly flattering photograph and rankings that begin with "He deserves an F" and include "I'll let him slide with a B."

Still, it has attracted fans of Burr. After an overall rating of F by some 60 users on Sunday, the site went to 182 users and an average grade of B-minus by this morning.

"He is a true statesman who works hard for the people of North Carolina," reads a comment left by a Winston-Salem resident.

Created on May 18, the site is hosted by a company that hosts Web sites for as little as $5.95 a month.

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler is again the hot topic.

Recent remarks by N.C. Democratic Party chairman David Young on an Asheville radio station that Shuler is reconsidering a run for Senate have fanned the flames, reports the Hendersonville Times-News: 

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee members "are talking to him very seriously," Young told WPEK 880-AM. "I believe congressman Shuler is considering it again."

Young told the Times-News Tuesday that he had not spoken directly with Shuler, but believes it would be positive for Western North Carolina if Shuler ran against Burr.

"I think he would be a fantastic candidate," said Young, a former Buncombe County commissioner.

The newspaper also notes that an open seat in Shuler's conservative mountain district could mean a GOP win there.

Hat Tip: Scorecard 

North Carolina Democrats hope that Andrew Whalen can do in the flatlands what he did in the mountains.

Whalen has been named executive of the state Democratic Party and will lead the party as it goes after Republican Sen. Richard Burr's seat next year, Rob Christensen reports.

Whalen, 28, managed the last two campaigns of Democrat Health Shuler who captured the mountain congressional seat in 2006 from Republican incumbent Charles Taylor and then held on to the seat last fall against Ashevillle City Councilman Carl Mumpower. Most recently he was Whalen's Senate communications director.

He replaces Caroline Valand, who is now chief of staff for Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton.

David Young, the state party chairman from Asheville, hired Whalen after watching him up close.

Shuler is one of several people being courted by the national Democratic Party to challenge Burr next year.

Before working for Shuler, Whalen managed two state House races in Virginia.

Also hired was C. Payne Lucas Jr., who will be director of party affairs and development. He will focus on organizing and training. He worked last year for the election of Barack Obama, working as Franklin County Field director for the Campaign for Change in 2008.

He worked the previous 13 years in business and job recruitment.

* Worth noting: Former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms voted to confirm Sonia Sotomayor as U.S. Circuit judge in 1998; former Sen. Lauch Faircloth against.

* Brian Nick, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, was named a "rising star" by Politics magazine for consultants and advocates under 35.

* N.C. Republican Party chair candidates Chad Adams and Marcus Kindley answer questionnaires on policy from Carolina Politics Online.

* N.C. Democratic Party chair David Young says on Asheville talk radio that his "gut" tells him U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler is thinking of a Senate run.

David Young remains hopeful.

The head of the N.C. Democratic Party said in a statement that he is confident the party will find a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010.

He argued that Republican Sen. Richard Burr has "failed North Carolina" and noted his low approval numbers.

"The Democratic Party will have a strong candidate to challenge Burr in the 2010 race for U.S. Senate, and we will win that race," he said.

* Former top lobbyist Don Beason has been spotted at Senate Finance Committee hearings, though he does not sign in to the guest sheet.

* U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, a Cherryville Republican, is playing a key role on GOP efforts to shape the 2010 Census policies.

* Spurred by N.C. Democratic Party, some 300 people call Sen. Richard Burr's office to complain about Rep. Virginia Foxx's remarks.

* Phones at Foxx's offices not being answered, calls "diverted to a general voice mail box, which was full and unable to record messages."

The Democrats for decades have had their annual Jefferson-Jackson fund raising dinner in Raleigh.

But on Saturday, some 400 to 500 Democrats are expected to gather at the Durham Marriott Convention Center, Rob Christensen reports.

David Young, the state Democratic chairman, said he wanted to see the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner moved around periodically and he said Durham was a good place to start because of its strong Democratic showing in last year’s election.

The featured speaker at the $100-per plate dinner is national Democratic chairman Tim Kaine, the governor of Virginia. North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue invited Kaine, and she will be on hand to play host.

The appearance by Kaine is another indication that the Obama administration is paying a lot of attention to North Carolina. Both President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have visited the state.

More after the jump.

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A liberal talk show host took aim at Sen. Richard Burr last night.

The Winston-Salem Republican was once again harshly criticized by MSNBC liberal talk host Rachel Maddow — a sign of his increased visibility as he runs for re-election.

Maddow, who previously criticized the senator for holding up President Obama's veterans appointee, called him "bank-run Burr" for having told his wife to take money out of an ATM during the banking crisis last fall.

Her guest, N.C. Democratic Party chairman David Young, said Burr "helped frame our case" for the 2010 Senate race, which has no announced Democratic candidate yet.

"I was shocked ... at the selfishness of somebody who would use insider information ... that he got in Washington ... to enrich himself," he told the host.

If Burr wasn't on notice before yesterday, he is now.

Tim Kaine is coming to North Carolina.

The Virginia governor and chairman of the Democratic National Committee will be the guest speaker at the N.C. Democratic Party's annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner.

Gov. Beverly Perdue and other state officials will also be at the event.

Tickets to the annual fundraiser, one of two major events held by the party, go on sale today at the party's Web site.

The event will be held at the Durham Marriott on May 2.

Kaine was in North Carolina last June for a training session at the Hunt Institute.

Previous speakers include Al Gore, Barack Obama and Sen. Evan Bayh.