Republicans are targeting freshman Democratic U.S. Rep Larry Kissell in 2010.

Party strategists believe that, with a strong candidate, reclaiming the suburban Charlotte-based district could be possible, Roll Call reports.

Kissell defeated Rep. Robin Hayes last year.

Hayes’ deep roots, Congressional tenure and fundraising ability make him a desirable candidate to try to take back the seat. But after five terms, another rigorous campaign might not be on Hayes’ agenda.

Hayes said he is still considering a 2010 run but that he is also working closely with the party to recruit other strong candidates.

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory has been mentioned as another top prospect, and he has not ruled out a Congressional run.

Other potential Republican challengers mentioned include Union County District Attorney John Snyder and former state Rep. Mia White.

Hat tip: RTB 

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory hasn't ruled out another shot at governor.

When asked if he was considering running for the office in 2012, McCrory said he is keeping his options open, but he said it was too early to decide, Kevin Kiley reports.

McCrory lost the race last year against Beverly Perdue by less than 5 percentage points.

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory opened the N.C. Republican Party Convention today with a discussion about how to get the state party back on track.

McCrory, who ran for governor against Beverly Perdue last year, urged convention's attendees to not stray from traditional Republican positions and said the party needs to focus on issues such as lower taxes, nuclear power and alternative energy, school choice and national defense, Kevin Kiley reports.

"We are not going to change the way we feel about the issues," he said.

He said these are areas where most citizens agree with the party.

McCrory also took shots at controvseries surrounding the state's Democratic Party, including former Governor Mike Easley and the controversy surrounding his wife's job at N.C. State University.

"One of the saddest things about losing the governor's race is that my wife can't get a job at N.C. State," he said.

N.C.'S STATE: Something was rotten at N.C. State. After a series of articles in the N&O revealed the involvement of former Gov. Mike Easley in the hiring of his wife, the provost and the chancellor resigned and Mary Easley was fired. (The chairman of the board of trustees had already left.) Though an interim chancellor has already been named, the university is not out of the woods yet. Expect further turmoil.

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM: The N.C. Republican Party met in Raleigh to plan a comeback. Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory was scheduled to outline his path to victory this morning, while delegates debated whether candidates should pledge loyalty to the state platform, whether primaries should be closed and — in what's turned out to be the nastiest race in years — who should be the party's new chairman.

SENATE BUZZ: U.S. Sen. Richard Burr says he's not thinking about which Democrat might run against him next year. He's the only one, apparently. The chattering classes spent more time this week wondering whether Secretary of State Elaine Marshall or U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre might make another run for it, while Iraq veteran Cal Cunningham and Obama fundraiser Kenneth Lewis kept trying to build buzz.

IN OTHER NEWS: The fight over the state budget continued, with House Democratic budget writers calling for $784 million in new taxes. ... A House committee passed a bill to allow billboard companies to cut down more trees. ... Elon University police detective Dan Ingle was chosen by Alamance County Republicans to replace former Rep. Cary Allred.

Pat McCrory is staying in the political limelight.

Although the longtime Charlotte mayor is retiring from his current post at the end of this term, he will help kick off the state Republican convention this weekend.

McCrory, who lost a bid for governor in November, will deliver a speech entitled "The Road to Victory" at the beginning of the session Friday.

"As a highly effective mayor and visionary leader, Pat McCrory is just the right person to help North Carolina grassroots Republicans set a course for the future," said party chairwoman Linda Daves in a statement. "Pat is the kind of leader that makes fellow Republicans proud to be on his team."

McCrory recently criticized the House budget proposal.

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory this morning ripped a tax proposal by N.C. House Democrats that would raise some income taxes to help close a $4 billion budget shortfall.

The House is considering a $940 million tax package today that would raise the sales tax and income taxes for those earning more than $200,000 a year, Jim Morrill reports.

"It's the last thing you need to do during a recession," he said. "The income tax is the most harmful tax to raise because you're only punishing those who are actually working ... This hurts our economic development efforts here in Charlotte, North Carolina ... when there's a cheaper place to live."

McCrory, last year's GOP gubernatorial nominee, said he worries that raising income taxes on the affluent could drive businesses from North Carolina.

Asked how he would deal with the record shortfall, McCrory offered no specifics but referred back to his 2008 campaign.

In October, when forecasters predicted a $2 billion shortfall, McCrory and Democrat Bev Perdue both said they opposed tax hikes and would convene expert panels to identify cuts and efficiencies in state government. Perdue Monday called on the House to include new taxes in its budget.

Tax policy will be part of McCrory's speech Friday at the GOP state convention in Raleigh.

MSNBC is raising the stakes:

GOP Sen. Richard Burr, who, if he wins re-election in 2010, could end up becoming a rising national star, is taking the lead for the Senate GOP on the issue of health care.

Washington types felt the same way about Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory. If he'd won the governor's mansion last year in spite of the Obama blue wave, he would be in the spotlight right now as the new face of the GOP.

On a somewhat related note, Reynolds High is inducting Burr into its sports hall of fame.

A standout high school football player who played in the 1973 Shrine Bowl, Burr went on to play defensive back at Wake Forest University.

Former GOP gubernatorial candidate Fred Smith also played in the Shrine Bowl and went on to Wake Forest.

* N.C. Republican Party chair candidate Chad Adams to have a meet-in-greet Wednesday in Raleigh at the home of Pat McCrory's sister.

* House Speaker Joe Hackney tells legislators they're going to have to stick around on Friday to get work done before crossover.

* Sex ed bill briefly delayed by Chapel Hill/Carrboro schools, which have a more progressive policy that they want grandfathered in.

* Gov. Beverly Perdue lobbies Democratic Party chair to bring the 2012 national convention to Charlotte; first state to express interest.

A few months ago, you wouldn't exactly call it Democrat Beverly Perdue's crowd: Charlotte's business leaders all gathered this afternoon at the Charlotte Chamber.

Among them was Perdue's erstwhile opponent, Republican Mayor Pat McCrory, who surely got the majority of votes from this hometown crowd, Jim Morrill reports.

But Perdue, who announced a handful of job training and economic development initiatives, appears to be building bridges in the city. Perdue narrowly carried Mecklenburg County, but largely on the strength of the Barack Obama vote.

Her remarks today capped visits earlier in the day to the big banks and an unemployment office. Last month she was here to announce the move of GMAC's headquarters to Charlotte and open a regional governor's office — the city's first.

"We've seen a lot of her in the first three months," said Charmber President Bob Morgan.

More after the jump.

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Their bitter gubernatorial campaign seemed forgotten Friday when Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue and Republican Mayor Pat McCrory shared a stage to welcome new jobs to Charlotte.

As Perdue announced GMAC’s 200 new jobs, she mentioned other dignitaries on the city hall stage including "my mayor, Pat McCrory," reports Jim Morrill of the Charlotte Observer. The mayor stood behind her smiling. Then it was his turn at the mike.

He presented a gift – a drawing of the NASCAR Hall of Fame – to a GMAC official. And he promised a similar one to Perdue.

"I’m gonna sign on the back of yours – it's gonna say, 'To the governor, Love, Pat'," he said to laughter.

After a campaign of harsh words and negative ads, Perdue acknowledged the spirit. "I've been waiting a long time," she said, "for the mayor to tell me he loved me."