News 14's Tim Boyum has more on Senator Elizabeth Dole's new political challenger.
RALEIGH -- Senator Elizabeth Dole now has an opponent for the 2008 election.
Democrat Jim Neal has filed the paperwork to run. He's a relatively unknown candidate but does have fundraising connections.
Neal is a Chapel Hill investment banker with no experience as a political candidate.
"He's known in the very inner circle of Democratic Party politics but to the average voter they are kind of going 'who is this guy and what does he stand for?'" Peace College political pundit David McLennan said.
But Neal does have fundraising contacts. He helped raise money for and personally knows former presidential candidates John Kerry and Wesley Clark.
"Not too many people knew John Edwards before he ran and plenty of examples of those who sort of came out of nowhere and made themselves a candidate," Chris Fitzsimon from NC Policy Watch said.
Democratic challenger Jim Neal
Pundits say he will likely attack her record and a lack of record on his own part could actually help.
"Without a voting record he's only going to be charged on what he says during his campaign which can be an asset to some candidates," Fitzsimon added.
Neal acknowledges Dole has name recognition on her side but he believes in time he can make his own name.
"And so if he can get some momentum going early, get some national support and some big names coming to North Carolina to support his race he could make it very interesting.
State Senator Kay Hagan and State Representative Grier Martin have both expressed interest, but so far neither Democrat has filed.
The Elizabeth Dole campaign did not respond to our efforts for a comment about her new opponent.