Etheridge won't run for Senate

RALEIGH (The Raleigh News & Observer) - Congressman Bob Etheridge said Friday that he would not challenge Republican Sen. Richard Burr next year, despite a concerted effort by the national Democratic Party to coax him into the race.

The decision is another setback for the Democrats, who earlier this year failed to entice state Attorney General Roy Cooper to enter the Senate contest.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has turned its attention to former state Sen. Cal Cunningham, an Iraq war veteran from Lexington who had spent several months exploring a Senate bid before announcing Monday that he would not be a candidate.