• The Hill newspaper notes the “truancy war” brewing between Republican U.S. Senate candidates and Democratic incumbents nationally over attendance records. The story leads with the rhetorical fight between U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan and GOP challenger Thom Tillis, each of whom took time away from their official duties to raise money. Hagan missed a series of national security hearings, including at least one dealing with the threat of ISIS; Tillis was absent during part of the legislative session.
• At National Review Online, Ramesh Ponnuru says the Senate races in Colorado and North Carolina may offer a reasonable test of whether the so-called “war on women” rhetoric actually works — and if Republicans should indeed worry about the gender gap.
• The late-week court rulings allowing same-sex marriages to proceed in North Carolina have supporters and opponents trying to determine whose electoral prospects the decisions may help more.
• A Wilmington Star-News profile of the three candidates seeking the open seat in the 7th Congressional District shows Republican David Rouzer with a huge fundraising lead over his opponents, Democrat Jonathan Barfield and Libertarian Wesley Casteen.
• Incumbent U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-10th, will debate his Democratic opponent Tate McQueen Oct. 22 on Time Warner Cable News.
• Rep. Tim Moffitt, R-Buncombe, was named to the national League of Conservation Voters’ “Dirty Dozen in the States” list of legislators. Moffitt earned the designation for supporting fossil fuel production, limiting regulations, and other actions the left-wing group considers “anti-environment.”
