Dispatches from the campaign trail, April 14, 2014

• The Rev. Mark Harris is on the air with his first ad in his quest for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination.

http://youtu.be/3xNso8IgWvI

• Harris and six of the seven other candidates for the Senate nomination met Friday for a debate sponsored by the East Wake Republican Club. House Speaker Thom Tillis did not attend. Look for a full report later today at Carolina Journal Online.

• State Supreme Court Associate Justice Mark Martin, a Republican who’s running for the open chief justice post, spoke at the Beaufort County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner. The link includes a video clip of Martin’s remarks.

• The News & Observer reports that 2nd Congressional District candidate Clay Aiken is relying on his celebrity — rather than print or broadcast ads or campaign signs — in his run for the Democratic nomination. Former Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco and Fayetteville counselor Toni Morris are running more traditional campaigns.

• Grab the popcorn: Filmmaker Bryan Miller has released “Woodhouse Divided,” a documentary following Raleigh natives (and larger-than-life personalities) Brad and Dallas Woodhouse during the Obama presidential campaigns and the passage of Obamacare. Brother Brad was communications director for the Democratic National Committee and brother Dallas was the North Carolina director of the conservative grass-roots group Americans for Prosperity. Miller plans to enter the documentary in film festivals. Should be fun.