The state’s largest newspapers called on John Hood in the past week to analyze hot political topics. The News & Observer and Charlotte Observer published a piece featuring Hood’s thoughts about potential budget savings to be identified by a commission Gov. Beverly Perdue appointed this year. The Greensboro News & Record also sought Hood’s input for a story about U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan’s first year on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, Reason.org highlighted a recent column from Hood discussing the role of government regulation in creating housing bubbles. Hood’s recent musings for National Review Online’s primary blog, “The Corner,” about the political tenor of Star Wars and Star Trek attracted attention from ConservativeBlogWatch.com and TopConservativeBlogs.com. N.C. Senate Republicans also highlighted this week in their daily e-mails columns from Hood discussing the next steps in the battle over ObamaCare and Perdue’s priorities for 2010. (One of those e-mail messages also noted Carolina Journal contributor Jenna Ashley Robinson‘s exclusive story about the Pope Center for Higher Education Policy’s efforts to track finances within the University of North Carolina system.)