Dole home for the holidays ... or home for the campaign?

It’s official. Elizabeth Dole, North Carolina’s senior U.S. senator won’t be attending this year’s Republican nominating convention in Minnesota. In years past she’s been a high-profile GOP star, landing prime spots on the speaking agenda. This year she’s up for re-election, and The New Republic had this to say about her absence:

“According to campaign spokespeople, it's because the Senate has a break - and
Dole likes to spend her breaks among her constituents in the Tar Heel
state.
Um, ok. Likely story.
News that Dole will be a no-show came amid
what has already been an awkward few weeks of media coverage for the senator.
Her Democratic challenger is gaining in the polls, she was lambasted for trying
to rename a new AIDS relief bill in honor of the late Jesse Helms, and she
purged $10,000 worth of campaign donations received from recently indicted Sen.
Ted Stevens.”

Interesting. When she sought a Senate seat in 2002, Sen. Dole hadn’t lived in N.C. for three decades. And one frequent complaint heard in Tar Heelia is that she’s not here, not tuned in and spends time pursuing party interests rather than local ones.
Maybe re-election changes priorities.