Sen. Kay Hagan said that any health care reform bill must address ways to get more doctors into primary care.

Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, was interviewed by Scott Fitzgerald on WPTF, 680-AM Wednesday morning. Fitzgerald asked what would happen to the system if a health care reform bill added 47 million people to the health care system. 

"We've got to have a pipeline where we can have more primary care physicians, nurses, medical technicians," Hagan said.

She said a senate bill does address that issue as does a bill she sponsored that is meant to help doctors set up primary care practices in rural areas. Her Rural Pipeline Physicians Act is meant to address the fact that only 10 percent of primary care doctors work in rural areas.

Gov. Beverly Perdue borrowed a page from President Obama tonight.

In her first State of the State speech before the legislature, the Democratic governor noted the "tough times" in the economy and called for an end to political bickering.

"Starting today, it is no longer business as usual for North Carolina's budget," she said. "I want all of our citizens to know that it's a new day in North Carolina. Everything is on the table. We do not have time for talk-show political posturing or petty partisan games."

Though the state capital has a handful of political talk shows — N.C. Spin, News 14 Carolina's "Political Connections" and some episodes of "Headline Saturday" — it is hardly overrun by the pundits that rule Washington, D.C.

(Kim Genardo's "At Issue" show was canceled last month.)

But President Obama has gotten a lot of mileage in recent weeks out of criticizing radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh.

There are a number of radio shows around the state with similar styles to Limbaugh, such as those on WPTF AM radio in the Triangle. But they don't have a statewide reach.

Rep. Hugh Holliman is feeling confident about his smoking ban.

The Democratic majority leader predicted during an interview on Raleigh talk radio WPTF station this morning that a proposed ban on smoking in bars and restaurants would pass the state House of Representatives.

"I would think it'll be a very spirited debate, but I think it'll pass probably 70 votes to 50," he said. 

A similar proposal lost on a 61-55 vote in 2007, though a number of legislators have retired or been defeated since then.

Hat Tip: Right Angles 

* Rep. Bruce Goforth writes a bill that would extend legislators' terms from two years to four, says it would cut PAC influence, fundraising.

* U.S. Sen. Richard Burr makes the rounds, appearing on Fox News and WPTF, at press conference and on Senate floor to speak against SCHIP, stimulus package.

* Greensboro News-Record columnist Doug Clark says Senate Republican leader Phil Berger should go over legislators' heads and talk straight to the governor.

* Conservative, gun-owning NRA member Katy Benningfield speaks out against bill allowing hunting on Sundays, cites personal safety while mountain biking.

It's the equinox of the fall Silly Season.

Your Dome correspondents have sifted through a number of ridiculous claims and counter-claims since this election began, but we haven't posted some because, well, we had slightly better things to do.

That said, we had a few quiet moments this morning and wanted to share them with you:

POTTYMOUTH PAT? The Perdue campaign would like you to hear the clip below of Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory — they say — swearing in a WPTF interview Wednesday. We honestly can't tell if he's saying what they say he said.

SATANIC CONTRIBUTION? The National Republican Senatorial Committee would like you to know that Democratic Senate candidate Kay Hagan received a donation for $666 around the time of the fundraiser hosted by the founder of the Godless Americans PAC.

LICENSE TO DRIVE? The campaign of Hagan would like you to know that Sen. Elizabeth Dole's "ElizaBus" touring the state right now has a Tennessee license plate, though we're here in North Carolina.

Should we have devoted the waning minutes of the campaign season to digging deeper into these stories or were we right to move on? Let us know in the comments.

As celebrities from Hollywood to New York City line up to endorse presidential candidates, one of the most celebrated bluegrass musicians of all time was not to be left out.

Ralph Stanley, the great singer and banjo man, endorsed Democrat Barack Obama Tuesday, the Washington Post reports.

"After the last eight years, Virginia families need someone on their side, someone looking out for their interests, and I know Barack Obama will be that leader," Stanley was quoted in the Post.

Stanley has been a Triangle favorite since the late 1940s, when he and brother Carter appeared on radio station WPTF in downtown Raleigh, reports Tommy Goldsmith.

More modern audiences may best remember Stanley's voice as it emerged from a Klansman's hood, singing "O Death" in the hit movie "O Brother Where Art Thou?"

Pat McCrory says the governor needs a good relationship with business.

In an interview on WPTF talk radio Wednesday morning, the Republican gubernatorial candidate said that he would meet with business leaders interested in North Carolina.

"In job recruitment, the governor has to get out of the mansion occasionally and go out and recruit throughout the nation and throughout the world," he said.

He also said he would meet with existing businesses, saying he never takes any company for granted as Charlotte's mayor.

Bob Orr, one of McCrory's primary rivals, said that response troubled him, arguing that the governor should focus on business-friendly policies to help existing companies grow. He also questioned McCrory's stance on incentives.

"Pat will need to let the voters know where he stands on targeted tax breaks for these large corporations," Orr said in a statement.