Hagan, Dole to meet in US Senate election

RALEIGH (AP) -- U.S. Senate candidate Kay Hagan didn't spend much time celebrating her convincing victory in the Democratic primary.

The state senator from Greensboro used her victory speech to critique incumbent Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole, a national political figure with strong name recognition and a
multimillion-dollar campaign fund.

Hagan has said she needs about $10 million to unseat Dole -- about seven times more money than Hagan has raised thus far. She began solidifying Democratic support Tuesday by calling on
supporters of her chief primary challenger, Chapel Hill entrepreneur Jim Neal.

Hagan claimed 61 percent of the vote with 87 percent of the precincts reporting. Neal had 18 percent.

While Neal had said Hagan offered little contrast to Dole because she was a political insider, he backed off that comment Tuesday night. He said Dole's ties to the Bush administration will be a huge liability that could allow Hagan a chance to win.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)