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RALEIGH (AP) - Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Kay Hagan won endorsements Thursday from more than half of North Carolina sheriffs, but failed to win the support of all the county lawmen who are members of her party.

Incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Dole launched her first re-election bid in May with a television ad that featured several sheriffs talking about her work on illegal immigration.

The Republican lawmaker helped broker a federal-local partnership that allows sheriffs' deputies to check the immigration background of those they arrest - the first such program in the nation, according to federal immigration officials.

Of the 100 sheriffs in North Carolina, 53 endorsed Hagan on Thursday.

She touted their support while introducing her plan to combat crime and gangs, which includes increased penalties for gang-connected crimes, extra funding for federal prisons and a proposal that would require inmates to have 40-hour work weeks.

About two-thirds of North Carolina sheriffs are Democrats. None of the Republicans endorsed Hagan.

"That's pretty embarrassing since there are nearly 70 Democratic sheriffs in North Carolina and she could only get 53?" said Dole spokesman Dan McLagan. Hagan's campaign said they hope to win the endorsement of additional sheriffs in coming days.

Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin, who was featured in Dole's ad, is among those who endorsed Hagan. Peterkin said in an interview that he doesn't regret helping Dole in the one-minute spot, even though he doesn't agree with all of her policies.

"One thing that I do agree with is that we've got a problem with illegal immigration," Peterkin said. "And she has made a real good effort to solve that problem."

Peterkin, a Democrat, also believes Hagan can tackle illegal immigration. The state senator from Greensboro generally supports the program Dole helped start, but has said it can be a drain on departments and doesn't address the larger problem of illegal immigration.

"What we have now is a patchwork solution," Hagan said. "We've got to have a comprehensive solution."

Dole's ad in May also featured Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes, Alamance County's Terry Johnson, Rockingham County's Sam Page, Davidson County's David Grice and Randolph County's Maynard Reid.

Dole returned to the airwaves Thursday with her third television ad, which seeks to dismiss Democratic claims that she has been ineffective.

The 30-second spot, running statewide, touts Dole's work on illegal immigration, farming and jobs, although it doesn't discuss specifics.

The ad also notes that Dole won a "Best of Congress" award. Advocacy groups gave that honor earlier this month to 10 senators for their work on enhancing family friendly work policies.

The ad tries to tie Hagan to negative ads run by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

The national Democratic group has aired two ads citing a study that found Dole to be the 93rd most effective senator in the country.