• Swing state visit. Dr. Jill Biden, wife of the vice president, will campaign Saturday in the Triangle and elsewhere in North Carolina.

 

• Gloves off. State Sen. Thom Goolsby, R-New Hanover, and his Democratic challenger Deb Butler engaged in a heated debate Monday night.

 

• Mum’s the word. State Sen. Bill Rabon, R-Carteret, is not endorsing Republican David Rouzer or Democratic incumbent Rep. Mike McIntyre in the race for the 7th Congressional District.

 

• Connections. The state Republican Party, coordinating with the Romney campaign, mails a flier linking President Obama with Gov. Bev Perdue.

 

• Entitlement split. A new Obama for America ad goes after Mitt Romney’s record on Medicaid spending.