NC election filing period ends at noon Friday

RALEIGH (AP) -- Time is running out for political novices, political veterans and those in between to run for office this year. The filing period for candidates closes at noon Friday at the State Board of Elections and county election offices across North Carolina. This year's ballot includes races from president and governor, on down to the seats in the Legislature and on county commissions. On Thursday, Chapel Hill corporate financial adviser Jim Neal became the fourth Democratic candidate to seek the party's nomination for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by incumbent Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole. As of Friday morning, no one had filed for the job of state insurance commissioner. Incumbent Democrat Jim Long was first elected commissioner in 1984. (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)