Hagan says she can relate to N.C. voters better than Dole

Raleigh, N.C. — Democrat Kay Hagan said her 10 years as a state lawmaker will allow her to better serve North Carolinians in Washington than Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

"I couldn't tell you anything she'd done for the state of North Carolina over the last six years, and I'd also never met her," Hagan said, saying she can relate to issues facing the average North Carolinian.

"We need to lower the taxes for middle-class, working families in North Carolina," she said.

She said she favors tax cuts for families making $400,000 a year or less. She said she didn't support the $700 billion government bailout for the financial industry.

"I was in disagreement on the bailout because it didn't fix the root of the problem," she said.

Recent polls have shown Hagan holds a slight lead over Dole in a race that's drawing national attention.

"I'm running a very positive campaign. I'm getting all over the state. What I'm doing is I'm showing a contrast," she said.

If elected, Hagan said she would work with Republicans to get things done in Congress.

"My son went to Duke (University). My daughter's at (the University of North Carolina at) Chapel Hill," she said. "I can mediate partisan differences, and I pledge to do that when I go to Washington."