Kay's New Ad, "Endorsed," Highlights Her Newspaper Endorsements and Positive Leadership for North Carolina

October 18, 2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. - State Senator and U.S. Senate Candidate Kay Hagan (D-Guilford) yesterday released a new ad, “Endorsed,” that highlights the praise she’s received from several newspaper endorsements. Since the beginning of October, Kay received the endorsements of all five North Carolina newspapers which have offered them, including the Asheville Citizen-Times, the Charlotte Observer, the Greensboro News and Record, the Winston-Salem Journal and the Durham Herald-Sun.

“These glowing endorsements are a testament to Kay’s qualifications to serve as North Carolina’s next U.S. senator,” said Hagan Campaign Communications Director Colleen Flanagan. “The state’s major newspapers are casting a solid vote of confidence in Kay’s ability to produce the results for North Carolina that have been missing for the past six years under Elizabeth Dole. Kay’s endorsements reflect her intelligence, effectiveness and commitment to working for North Carolina – all qualities that voters have had a chance to see as she campaigns all across the state.”

Despite a recent slew of false ads that attack Kay and the budgets she co authored, the Winston-Salem Journal lauded those budgets as “balanced and responsible.” Their endorsement also described Kay as a “bundle of brains and energy.” In similar praise about Kay’s business sense, the Greensboro News and Record endorsement said “Hagan's record has been moderate and business-friendly” and lauded her “fiscal responsibility.”

In addition to listing Kay’s endorsements, the 30-second spot highlights Kay’s background as a businesswoman and mother of three, and that she has consistently ranked among North Carolina’s top ten most effective state senators. The ad can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TktixhIc_x0.

While Elizabeth Dole has failed to garner a single editorial board endorsement, the Fayetteville Observer recently wrote about Dole’s attack ads, calling her desperate, and likening the attacks to “jumping into the deep end of the slime pool.”

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“Endorsed”
Hagan Senate Committee, Inc.
:30 TV
10/17/08

Transcript	Facts
Narrator: Major newspapers across the state are endorsing Kay Hagan for U.S. Senate. Text: News and Record Asheville Citizen-Times Winston-Salem Journal The Charlotte Observer Kay Hagan	Hagan Was Endorsed By The Greensboro News And Record. On October 5, 2008, the Greensboro News & Record editorialized, “For years, Kay Hagan has been Guilford County's go-to state senator in Raleigh. Smart, energetic and well-connected, she's drawn high ratings for effectiveness…Hagan's record has been moderate and business-friendly. She should remain on that centrist course, embracing the best ideas from either side of the political divide. Her priorities include fiscal responsibility, investing in effective education policies, health care reform, new energy development and what she calls ‘a whole list of pocketbook issues’…[Hagan is] responsive to constituents, communicates well, works hard, comprehends complex issues, makes good decisions and is not content to be average. She can become an outstanding U.S. senator.” [Greensboro News & Record editorial, 10/5/08] Hagan Was Endorsed By The Asheville Citizen-Times. On October 9, 2008, the Asheville Citizen-Times editorialized, “Hagan lives, works and raised her family in North Carolina. The forcefulness and hard work that earned her the chairmanship of one of the most important Senate committees, her extensive understanding of the state's economic, educational and environmental needs and her proven record of being able to work with her fellow lawmakers to get things done would better serve North Carolina. For that reason, she gets our recommendation…North Carolina needs and deserves a senator who stays in touch with her constituents and the changing dynamics of a fast-growing state. And it deserves a knowledgeable, collaborative, but forceful voice in the U.S. Senate. We believe Kay Hagan promises to be such a voice.” [Asheville Citizen-Times editorial, 10/9/08] Hagan Was Endorsed By The Winston-Salem Journal. On October 10, 2008, the Winston-Salem Journal editorialized, “Today the Journal endorses state Sen. Kay Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, for the office [of U.S. Senate]. Hagan, 55, is a bundle of brains and energy…Kay Hagan has the potential to be an excellent senator for North Carolina. The Journal endorses her enthusiastically.” [Winston-Salem Journal editorial, 10/10/08] Hagan Was Endorsed By The Charlotte Observer. On October 12, 2008, The Charlotte Observer editorialized, “We recommend Hagan. We believe she offers citizens the better hope of having an effective and independent voice in the Senate. She also offers them a voice that is more closely attuned to everyday life in North Carolina.” [Charlotte Observer editorial, 10/12/08]
Narrator: Calling Kay a “bundle of brains and energy.” A businesswoman, mother of three, Kay’s ranked one of the ten most effective senators. Text: Winston-Salem Journal “bundle of brains and energy” Businesswoman Mother of three One of North Carolina’s ten “most effective senators” North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research	Winston-Salem Journal: Hagan Has “Brains And Energy.” The Winston-Salem Journal editorialized, “Hagan, 55, is a bundle of brains and energy…Kay Hagan has the potential to be an excellent senator for North Carolina.” [Winston-Salem Journal editorial, 10/10/08] Hagan Was A Vice President At NCNB Corporation. Hagan worked at NCNB Corporation for ten years, from 1978 until 1988. She worked in the estate and trust division, eventually working her way up to be a vice president. NCNB became NationsBank in 1992. [Hagan campaign; Charlotte Observer, 2/6/95, 3/25/08] Hagan Is Married And Raised Three Children In Greensboro. Hagan is married to Charles “Chip” Hagan and has three children, Jeanette, Tilden and Carrie. The Hagans raised their children in Greensboro and Hagan was active in Greensboro organizations and efforts prior to running for public office. [Greensboro News & Record, 10/12/98, 5/29/05, 10/31/07; Charlotte Observer, 3/25/08] Hagan Was Repeatedly Ranked Among North Carolina’s “Ten Most Effective Senators.” The Asheville Citizen-Times reported, “The non-partisan North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research named Hagan one of North Carolina’s ‘Ten Most Effective Senators’ during her last three terms.” Hagan entered the top ten in 2003-2004, when she ranked 9th. In 2005-06 she was ranked 7th and held that same ranking in 2007-2008. According to the Greensboro News & Record, she has become one of Guilford County’s most highly rated legislators in years. [Greensboro News & Record, 4/27/08, 4/18/06, 5/29/05, 6/4/04; Asheville Citizen-Times editorial, 10/9/08]
Narrator: With a moderate and business-friendly record, her priorities include fiscal responsibility, investing in education, health care reform and new energy development. Text: News and Record “moderate and businessfriendly…” “fiscal responsibility” “education” “health care reform” “new energy development” Narrator: Kay Hagan, exactly the change our economy needs. Text: the change our economy needs	Greensboro News And Record Praised Hagan’s Record. The Greensboro News & Record editorialized, “Hagan's record has been moderate and business-friendly. She should remain on that centrist course, embracing the best ideas from either side of the political divide. Her priorities include fiscal responsibility, investing in effective education policies, health care reform, new energy development and what she calls ‘a whole list of pocketbook issues.’” [Greensboro News & Record editorial, 10/5/08] Hagan Supports Incentives For Companies Who Keep Jobs Here, Not Send Them Overseas. In July 2008, Hagan released a trade and jobs policy which said, “Our tax policy provides incentives to corporations who move jobs overseas. Kay Hagan will ensure that these loopholes are closed and that businesses are rewarded for keeping jobs in America.” [Hagan jobs and trade policy] Hagan Sought To Repeal Oil Company Tax Credits. The Charlotte Observer reported that Hagan supports a “bipartisan compromise that would allow states to decide on offshore drilling, promote alternative energy and repeal oil company tax credits.” The article also refutes a Dole attack that links Hagan to “Big Oil.” [Charlotte Observer, 9/17/08]
KRH: I’m Kay Hagan and I approved this message. Text: Kay Hagan U.S. Senate	Hagan Stressed The Need To Crack Down On Speculators Who Are Driving Up Oil Prices. Hagan asserted she would “like to see more done to crack down on speculators who are artificially driving up the price of oil while reaping record profits” as a way to lower gas prices in the short-term. [Kay Hagan Campaign Press Release, 8/4/08; 7/28/08] Hagan Will Use North Carolina’s Resources To Create Jobs At Home. In April 2008, Hagan released an energy plan which would utilize North Carolina’s research, agriculture and manufacturing facilities to transition to clean energy. A study released in October 2007 showed that North Carolina could net 300,000 more jobs by 2020 by implementing energy-efficiency programs and producing more renewable energy. [Associated Press, 10/24/07; Hagan energy plan] Hagan Will Work To Enhance Competitiveness In Rural Communities. Hagan released a rural plan, which stated, “Kay will promote rural competitiveness by fighting hard to increase rural quality of life, particularly in education and health care, and to foster a competitive environment built upon the 21st Century broadband infrastructure that is necessary to succeed in the globalized world.” [Hagan rural plan]

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