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Scandal-plagued and bullet-ridden Democratic Chairman David Parker opened the state convention Saturday facing more of the same questions about whether his leadership is a leg iron on the party's ticket.

Parker has been under fire for his role in a sexual harassment scandal that cost the Democratic executive director his job. Earlier this week a former staffer who was fired after voicing a complaint about sexual harassment filed a lawsuit against Parker and the state party.

But the ever-resolute Parker said Saturday that he doesn't expect the party's trouble to be much of a factor in the election. "I don't believe it's had any negative impact on the electorate," he said. "I do not believe that any of the stories will have an impact on the outcome in November. These issues that have come up are distractions. And they simply won't work."

In this column, Rob Christensen explores the undercurrents fueling the state Democratic Party scandal. No. 1: The current train crash at Democratic Headquarters on Hillsborough Street has been made worse by the disconnect between the governor and the party. No 2: Part of being a battleground state is that North Carolina is now hard-wired into Washington, D.C., politics – which means it is hard ball and fast. Any allegation of misconduct becomes fodder for the opposition, which can be counted upon to do it’s best to make a photograph of a penis into Weinergate. Read the full column here.

In other weekend headlines:

--Here's a primer for the John Edwards trial, which is scheduled to start Monday with all the trappings of a Greek drama.

--The Democratic candidates courted black voters Saturday in a Durham forum. The reliable Democratic voting bloc could help determine the May 8 primary outcome.

--At the same time, black voters are splitting with Democrats on the marriage amendment -- and helping to boost polling numbers showing the constitutional ban on gay marriage and civil unions is likely to pass next month. Read more from The Charlotte Observer here.

Here's how Charlotte Observer editorial cartoonist Kevin Siers sums up Democratic Party Chairman David Parker's press conference Thursday.

UPDATED: A former staffer accused the Democratic Party’s executive director of showing him a picture of a penis, caressing his leg and discussing his sexual exploits, according to a new document obtained by The News & Observer.

The sexual harassment claims are detailed in a Dec. 8 letter from Adriadn Ortega, a former party staffer, to then-Executive Director Jay Parmley. Ortega claims he was “fired in retaliation for my complaints of sexual harassment” and asks for a severance agreement equal to one year’s pay and health care coverage. Ortega, 26, made roughly $20,000 a year, according to campaign finance reports.

Ortega did not respond to questions. Parmley, 41, could not be reached for comment. He resigned Sunday but denied harassing any employee. He blamed political reasons for his departure.

Read the full story here.

*This post has been updated to correct description of picture in the letter.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidates sharpened their criticisms Tuesday night, drawing more pointed contrasts with each other’s records in the second in a series of televised debates. 

Former U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge heard his congressional record on trade and his tenure as superintendent of public instruction come under fire. Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton found himself defending his attendance record and his advocacy of Democratic causes in the legislature. Read the story here. And get the pundits' take on the debate.

Other headlines:

-- The calls for Democratic Party chairman David Parker to resign snowballed Tuesday, leaving his tenure short on days. Gov. Bev Perdue, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton and former Congressman Bob Etheridge all reversed course to call for his ouster after trying to avoid the controversy for days.

The Charlotte Observer is calling it the "April Surprise" and the paper's cartoonist gets in his take on the candidates' reactions to scandal.

The N.C. Democratic Party has begun a process to replace Executive Director Jay Parmley, who resigned Sunday after allegations surfaced about the sexual harassment of a party staffer and a secret financial settlement.

But it sounds like the process of finding a replacement -- which is especially important with North Carolina as a battleground state in this election -- won't happen immediately.

David Parker, the embattled party chairman, who is facing calls for his resignation, sent an email to party officials Tuesday naming a search committee that includes the eventual winner of the May 8 Democratic primary for governor. 

Gov. Bev Perdue -- the de facto head of the state Democratic Party -- spoke to reporters after a luncheon Tuesday in Raleigh and continued her refusal to comment on the controversy at party headquarters that led to the resignation of Executive Director Jay Parmley. She called it a personnel matter -- and didn't respond to questions about whether she knew about the scandal months ago and didn't do anything about it. At one point, upon repeated questioning, she tells a reporter to: "Get over it." (One minute into video.)

(Meanwhile, other top N.C. Democrats are calling for Party Chairman David Parker to resign. Perdue did not sign the letter.)

UPDATED: Republicans at the national level are looking to make hay with the recent scandal --  state Rep. Bill Faison's word from last night's debate -- at the N.C. Democratic Party.

The National Republican Congressional Committee issued email missives Tuesday asking two targeted Democratic congressmen to take a stance on allegations of sexual harassment and a financial settlement with a former staffer that led to the resignation of Executive Director Jay Parmley.

From The Charlotte Observer's editorial cartoonist Kevin Siers.

Party activists are calling for the N.C. Democratic Party chairman and executive director to resign amid questions concerning a secret agreement to pay a former staffer to keep quiet about sexual harassment allegations.

Chairman David Parker and Executive Director Jay Parmley are facing tough questions about a financial settlement given to a low-level staffer earlier this year who was fired soon after he complained about being sexually harassed by a senior party official. The settlement agreement and nondisclosure statement came to light Friday in internal party emails obtained by The News & Observer, but the documents did not identify the party official responsible.

At the Wake and Durham county party conventions Saturday, party activists introduced resolutions demanding Parker and Parmley resign or be fired. Other party officials also are privately asking the two top officials to leave for the sake of the party.

In Wake County, Democratic consultant Perry Woods put forth a resolution saying the party "must deal with sexual harassment claims in an open and transparent fashion."

The party must be "not only beyond guilt but above suspicion, and event a hint or perception of a cover-up is damaging to the party's credibility," the resolution stated.