Campaign confirms U.S. Senate candidate Neal is gay

Campaign confirms U.S. Senate candidate Neal is gay


Published: Oct 22, 2007 10:39 AM
Modified: Oct 22, 2007 10:47 AM
Campaign confirms U.S. Senate candidate Neal is gay
The Associated PressCHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Jim Neal, the Democrat who is running to challenge U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, is gay, a campaign spokesman confirmed Monday.
Neal spoke publicly of his sexual orientation over the weekend during an online discussion organized by a liberal blog, spokesman Thomas Mills said.
In response to a message on BlueNC.com asking whether he was gay, Neal is quoted a saying: "I am indeed. No secret and no big deal to me - I wouldn't be running if I didn't think otherwise."
He continued: "I'm not running this race to make some social statement. I'm running to lead in the Senate for the voters in NC - something Sen. Dole has not done."
Neal is a fundraiser for 2004 presidential candidates who has never run for public office. He is the only Democrat who has announced he will run next year against Dole.
The head of a Chapel Hill corporate financial advisory firm, Neal announced Oct. 4 he would seek the Democratic nomination. Neal, 50, was previously married and has two sons. He didn't mention his sexual orientation at the time of the announcement.
Other Democrats have declined to get in the race, including Gov. Mike Easley, Attorney General Roy Cooper and U.S. Rep. Brad Miller. Two state legislators announced this month that they wouldn't get involved in the race.
Democrats contend Dole is vulnerable for re-election next year because of her support for the war in Iraq and a poor showing by Republicans when she led the National Republican Senatorial Committee in the 2006 elections. A Elon University poll a few weeks ago put Dole's job approval rating at 50 percent, with 25 percent who disapproved.
Other openly gay candidates have won local elected office in North Carolina. State Sen. Julia Boseman, D-New Hanover, was elected to the General Assembly in 2004.
Former Superior Court Judge Ray Warren, who also is gay, announced in 2001 that he would seek the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms. But he later dropped out of the race ultimately won by Dole.
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