• Candidate fundraising results are trickling in, and among the highlights:
— National Journal’s Hotline and the political newspaper/blog The Hill both named Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan one of its “winners” in fundraising nationally after collecting $2 million in the fourth quarter of 2013.
— GOP U.S. Senate candidates Thom Tillis reported $1.7 million raised in 2013; obstetrician Greg Brannon announced more than $525,000 raised last year. The Rev. Mark Harris said he had collected $406,000.
— Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-2nd District, raised $204,000 in the fourth quarter and had $260,000 on hand Dec. 31.
• Meantime, the Winston-Salem Journal looks at spending so far on Senate campaign commercials in Triad media outlets, primarily from groups not affiliated with individual candidates.
• The Fayetteville Observer‘s Michael Adams explores what the Senate race may indicate about the state of North Carolina, philosophically.
• Huffington Post looks at the challenges and opportunities facing “American Idol” runner-up Clay Aiken if he decides to run for the Democratic nomination in the 2nd Congressional District and eventually faces incumbent Rep. Renee Ellmers.
• Conservative pundit “Politichick” Ann-Marie Murrell will appear at a Feb. 6 fundraiser in the Triangle, as GOP state Rep. Chris Malone launches his bid for re-election.
