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• The latest survey by Democratic firm Public Policy Polling shows Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper with a slim 44-41 lead over GOP Gov. Pat McCrory — a reversal of the three-point lead McCrory held last month. PPP attributes McCrory’s slippage to a drop in support among Republicans for the governor. Meantime, incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr is in good shape against all potential Democratic candidates polled, including oft-rumored challenger and former Sen. Kay Hagan. Full poll results here.

• As for Cooper’s current post, GOP state Sen. Buck Newton of Wilson County would like to have it. He has announced plans to seek the GOP nomination for attorney general.

• Among the items that may not be on the ballot anytime soon is McCrory’s proposed $3 billion bond package. Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, isn’t keen to place new borrowing before voters, saying it’s possible the highway funding portion of the package could be handled by ending diversions of motor fuel tax collections to the General Fund.

• It’s also possible that the governor’s top advocate of the highway bonds package — Transportation Secretary Tony Tata — may have his sights set on a seat in Congress. National Journal reports rumors that Tata, a retired brigadier general in the U.S. Army, may challenge incumbent 3rd District Rep. Walter Jones in the 2016 GOP primary. Jones has become a consistent skeptic of U.S. military action abroad.