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Decide for yourself

Some of this week's column is brought to you by Decision 2008, Scoop's campaign-obsessed cousin from the online world.

As Scoop focuses on the local political scene, Decision 2008 is writing about campaigns from the presidential race on down the ticket.

Log on tonight for coverage of the New Hampshire primary with special emphasis on former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards: blog.news-record.com/staff/decision08.

Our guy Edmunds

In our "Eight issues to watch in politics this year" story, we said one of the things we'd watch is whether "local boys and girls make good in statewide races."

Named were Sen. Kay Hagan, who is running for U.S. Senate, as well as local farmer Steve Troxler, the incumbent agriculture commissioner; Jim Neal, a Chapel Hill investment banker who grew up in Greensboro and also is running for U.S. Senate; and Bob Crumley, a local lawyer with offices in Greensboro.

Left off the list was Supreme Court Justice Robert Holt Edmunds Jr., whose official bio says he has lived in Greensboro since 1957.

Will he or won't he?

Conservative blogs were abuzz this weekend with the rumor that Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory would kick off a campaign for governor this week in Jamestown. The Meck Deck, a blog hosted by the conservative John Locke Foundation, kicked off the speculation, noting the Republican had been student body president at Ragsdale High School back in the day.

Scoop called the McCrory campaign — his mayor organization, natch — and asked what was up.

"We're not going to be making any comments," said Victoria Smith, his campaign manager. "I really can't comment; just stay tuned."

McCrory was elected to his seventh term as mayor last year. If he were to jump in, he would join a Republican field that includes former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr, state Sen. Fred Smith and Salisbury lawyer Bill Graham.

See the candidates

UNC-TV will host the N.C. Gubernatorial Forum 2008: The Economy on Thursday.

If you have Time Warner digital cable, the program will air on UNC-NC (Channel 504) at 8 p.m. If you don't, an encore will air at 10 p.m. on UNC-TV ( Channel 4).

Democratic Party candidates Richard Moore and Beverly Perdue and Republican Party contenders Bill Graham, Bob Orr and Fred Smith will take part.

Other forum topics are health care Feb. 7 and education April 24.

More online

You can read more about goings-on at these blogs:

Debatables: A place where we all talk about the issues of the day. blog.news-record.com/staff/debatables

The Inside Scoop: Dedicated to the civic and political scene in the Triad and North Carolina. blog.news-record.com/scoopblog

Longworth picks a fight

Yes! Weekly columnist and talk-show host Jim Longworth has said he won't let Jay Ovittore on his "Triad Today" show. Ovittore is the front-runner for the Democratic nomination in the 6th Congressional District.

Triad Today is independent . WXLV-45, where the show is produced, doesn't have a news department.

Mark Binker contributed to this report.