Raleigh, N.C. — The Democratic Party's bid to knock off Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole began with clumsy courting of a line of officials who declined to run.

So Tuesday's primary will settle a race between odd-couple hopefuls – one who jumped in when it seemed nobody else would and another who initially passed but changed her mind at the urging of Democratic insiders.

Last October, it appeared Chapel Hill entrepreneur Jim Neal would cruise to the nomination. A few days after Neal declared his candidacy, state Sen. Kay Hagan of Greensboro became the latest Democrat to withdraw from consideration.

Neal moved forward to solidify support among party regulars. Among his first steps was taking part in a liberal blog's online forum in which he disclosed that he was gay. It galvanized party activists who praised his candor in a state with a deep vein of conservative voters.

But a few days later, Hagan said she was reconsidering. She officially joined the race at the end of October with an endorsement from former Gov. Jim Hunt, arguably the state's most popular Democrat.

Three other Democrats – Lexington trucker Duskin Lassiter, Lumberton attorney Marcus Williams and Moncure podiatrist Howard Staley – are in the race, but they have been unable to win over donors or show any strength in statewide polls. Polls show Dole with a wide lead over challenger Pete Di Lauro in the GOP primary, and she has already banked about $3.2 million for her re-election bid.

Hagan has quickly overtaken Neal and is already plotting for the general election. She has raised about $1.5 million to Neal's $367,377, a third of which came from a personal loan to his own campaign. Polls indicate Hagan has a comfortable lead, aided by statewide television advertising aimed at boosting her name recognition.

"I'm the one candidate with the proven record of leadership," said Hagan, who has served in Raleigh for almost a decade, including several years as the Legislature's chief budget-writer. "I have the experience and the ability to fix what's broken. I can be an effective voice for all North Carolinians in Washington. And I can beat Elizabeth Dole."

Democrats believe Dole's popularity has been hurt by her support for the war in Iraq and a poor showing when she led the National Republican Senatorial Committee to losing a majority in the 2006 midterm elections. However, her approval ratings remain above 50 percent in polls conducted by Elon University.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee had pursued several potential challengers with hopes of knocking off one of the biggest names in the Republican party. But several possible challengers – including Gov. Mike Easley, Attorney General Roy Cooper and Rep. Brad Miller – all declined.

Hagan said she will likely have to build a campaign chest of $10 million to successfully take on Dole, and she has taken tens of thousands of dollars from influential political action committees to help get there. That includes $10,000 donated by the IMPACT group organized by Sen. Chuck Schumer, chairman of the DSCC.

Neal is using those connections to portray Hagan as a political insider. He is challenging her argument of electability and said during the primary's only televised debate that he was the candidate to beat Dole.

"At the end of the day, it's your decision," he said. "Which way do you want to go: forward, backward or nowhere?"

Neal has staked out several positions to the left of Hagan. He has urged Congress to cut off funding for the war in Iraq, while Hagan has pushed for a "diplomatic surge" and a timetable for removing troops. Neal also wants to end the conflict in Afghanistan, a place Hagan believes the U.S. has neglected due to its focus on Iraq.

While Neal argues illegal immigrants need a pathway to citizenship, Hagan said she opposes what she deems "amnesty."

Despite the clear differences, North Carolina State University political science professor Andy Taylor said both have struggled to get their messages out in a primary season consumed by the extended presidential race and a heated gubernatorial campaign.

"It's just sort of lost in the noise," Taylor said. "Once people get past the presidential race and the gubernatorial race, I'm not entirely sure what they're going to think of the Senate contest."