Gov. Beverly Perdue has signed a pact with her counterparts in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

The South Atlantic Alliance will help each state protect its coastal resources and help communities react to disasters such as hurricanes. The states would pool resources to help with economic development, environmental protection and disaster preparedness.

The alliance was Perdue, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist.

"All four governors realize that we are facing considerable challenges to sustain our coastal resources for future generations," Beverly Perdue said in a news release. "This alliance will enable us to work together to protect our ocean environment and the health and economic well-being of the people dependent on those resources. 

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole plans to spend a half-million dollars advertising.

The Salisbury Republican, faced by three recent polls showing her with lower-than-expected approval ratings, will spend the money over the next two weeks airing an ad on illegal immigration, Rob Christensen reports.

The ad was produced by Fred Davis, a Los Angeles media consultant who handled Dole's TV ads during her 2002 Senate campaign as well as George W. Bush's 2004 re-election campaign and the campaigns of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker.

Her Democratic opponent, state Sen. Kay Hagan, does not have the funding to run her own ad now. While Dole reported having $3.1 million on hand in mid-April, Hagan had spent much of her money on the contested primary, leaving her with just $317,311.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has sent out two fundraising letters on Hagan's behalf, according to Jennifer Duffy, an analyst with the Cook Political Report. 

Public Policy Polling recently found that Dole is ahead overall because of her strength with voters on the issue of illegal immigration.