Richard Sullivan says he's not running.

The Democrat fundraiser had contemplated a campaign for state Democratic Party chairman, but he told Dome Tuesday that he had decided against it.

"I just decided that because of current business interests and small children at home that I couldn't do it in a full-time capacity," he said. "I may serve in another capacity."

That leaves 11th District chairman Luke Hyde, vice chair Dannie Montgomery, attorney David Parker and former Senate candidate Jim Neal in the race.

Sullivan rose in politics as a key fund raiser for Rep. Dick Gephardt and then for Bill and Hillary Clinton. He estimated that he raised a half billion dollars for Democratic candidates and causes. 

The state Democratic Executive Committee will meet in Raleigh on Jan. 31 to select among the candidates.

The winner will replace outgoing chairman Jerry Meek.

Luke Hyde, the 11th district Democratic chairman, is campaigning to suceed Jerry Meek as state party chair.

Hyde, who owns a B&B in Bryson City while practicing law part-time in Raleigh, has been moving around the state seeking support, reports Rob Christensen.

He is touting the Democrat’s success in the mountains, where Democratic Congressman Heath Shuler now holds what had been a Republican seat, as well as other Democratic inroads.

Hyde said if elected he would continue the party’s grassroots emphasis.

"I am a big fan of Jerry,” Hyde said. “He has been an excellent chairman.”

Hyde is the brother of the late Herbert Hyde, a former state party chairman and a well-known state senator. He is married to Leila Tvedt, a former WRAL TV reporter and former executive director of the Agency for Public Television who is now a vice chancellor at Western Carolina University.

The state Democratic Executive Committee meets in Raleigh on January 31 to select a new chairman. Among those consideirng running are Dannie Montgomery of Anson County, the party’s first vice chair; David Parker of Statesville, a Democratic National Committeman; Richard Sullivan of Raleigh, a former national party finance director, and former U.S. Senate candidate Jim Neal.

Former Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jim Neal is giving some thought to running for state Democratic Party chairman.

Neal, a Chapel Hill businessman, said he had initially rejected the idea when he was approached last summer. But he said he has received much more encouragement in recent days, reports Rob Christensen.

“I have told people I will consider it,” Neal said. “I want to talk to some more people. I want to make sure there is widespread support for the notion. I think it could be fun and a real challenge. It’s something I’d have to make up my mind real quickly.”

The state Democratic Executive Committee is scheduled to meet Jan. 31 in Raleigh to pick a replacement for Jerry Meek, who is stepping down after two terms.

Meek was elected without the support of Gov. Mike Easley, although traditionally party chairs have been backed by the governor. Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue has not said whether she wants to play a role in choosing the new chair.

A number of Democrats are either running for chairman of thinking about it. They include Dannie Montgomery of Anson County, the state party’s first vice chairman; David Parker of Statesville, a Democratic National committeman; Richard Sullivan of Raleigh, a former finance director for the Democratic National Committee; and Luke Hyde, the 11th congressional district Democratic chair.

David Parker is also considering a run.

The Statesville attorney and former Barack Obama superdelegate said that he may run for chairman of the N.C. Democratic Party.

"I haven't made a decision," he told Dome.

He said he'll decide based on what Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue and other top party officials think.

"I think the governor's opinion and the opinions of the Executive Committee are very important," he said.

Democratic vice chair Dannie Montgomery is already running for the post, while Raleigh fundraiser Richard Sullivan is considering a run.

Current chairman Jerry Meek steps down at the end of January.

Richard Sullivan is considering running for Democratic chairman.

A highly successful fundraiser for Bill and Hillary Clinton, Sullivan said he has been asked by "numerous activists" to run for chairman of the N.C. Democratic Party.

"I am giving it thought," he said.

Sullivan, 44, currently works as director of marketing for Lovell, Mitchell and Bart, a law firm with offices in Seattle and New York. He said one consideration for him is the time commitment.

"People have generally treated it as a full-time job," he said. "I know Jerry Meek pretty much did it full time."

Current party vice chairman Dannie Montgomery has declared her interest in the job. Unlike her, Sullivan has not had an official role in the party before.

Statesville attorney David Parker is also reportedly interested. 

The party's executive committee will decide in late January. 

A few more names have floated for Democratic Party chair.

Two insiders are considering moving up. Dannie Montgomery, currently the first vice chair and a longtime Anson County activist, is reportedly interested in the position, as is Luke Hyde of Bryson City, currently the 11th Congressional District chair.

In addition, Clinton fundraiser Richard Sullivan may be interested in either the chairmanship or a finance position.

As previously reported, Statesville attorney David Parker and state Rep. Grier Martin may also be candidates.

A Democratic insider tells Dome that all of the candidates are holding back from making too public of a race until Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue sends a clear signal of what she wants.

Current chair Jerry Meek will step down at the end of January.

Update: Martin says that he's not running.

"It's not anything that I'm interested in," he said. 

Hillary Clinton's campaign opened her North Carolina headquarters this evening.

About 100 people attended the hourlong kickoff, including Wake County commissioners Lindy Brown and Betty Lou Ward, fundraiser Richard Sullivan and former Democratic Party chairman Tom Hendrickson, who owns the building near Raleigh's trendy Glenwood South area.

Hendrickson noted that the Clinton campaign brought in organizer Ace Smith to head up its North Carolina campaign, after similar efforts in California and Texas.

"They have sent us the A-team," he said.

Spokeswoman Cary Lindauer said that the campaign will open about a dozen offices around the state in the next few weeks, beginning with Charlotte. The state headquarters will also double as the Raleigh field office.

The crowd also included Gene Conti, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation from 1998 to 2000; Mike Schaul, a member of the N.C. Democratic Party's executive committee; and noted open space advocate Sig Hutchinson, who said he came because of his wife.

The guest who attracted the most attention, however, was Hendrickson's long-haired Chihuahua, Izzy. Several people in the campaign took turns holding the puppy during the event.

A few more people in the audience at the Hillary Clinton event at Wake Tech today:

Former Raleigh City Councilman Mort Congleton, former state Democratic chairman Tom Hendrickson and Clinton fundraiser Richard Sullivan. 

Richard Sullivan is Hillary Clinton's man in North Carolina.

According to a 2007 profile by Rob Christensen, the Raleigh public affairs consultant is the Democratic presidential candidate's biggest booster in the state.

Although he has a low profile here, Sullivan — or "Sully" to his friends — is well-known on Wall Street, K Street and Hollywood.

The son of a South Carolina legislator, he first became involved in Dick Gephardt's 1988 presidential campaign, then became a protege of Clinton fundraiser Terry McAuliffe.

He moved to Charlotte in 1997, then to an inside-the-Beltline neighborhood in West Raleigh in 2001.

His wife, Carolina Finklea Sullivan, worked as a fundraiser for state Sen. Marc Basnight and the Democratic Senate caucus.

The full profile after the jump.

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