Sabato's Crystal Ball

Crystal Ball Outlook: Likely D
Democratic candidate: Mike McIntyre, Incumbent

Republican candidate: Ilario Pantano, former Marine

Recent updates from the Crystal Ball

Update: October 14, 2010

Republicans have insisted there is a close race brewing in NC-7, where they have pumped in over a quarter of a million dollars in national money so far. Incumbent Democrat Mike McIntyre certainly was not a top tier target, as a conservative seven-term congressman from only a marginally Republican district, but recent polling has emboldened the GOP. A nonpartisan poll showed the race in a dead heat, although the DCCC’s polling shows a double-digit lead for McIntyre. Democrats think they will close this one out, citing GOP nominee Ilario Pantano’s murder charges following shooting two unarmed Iraqi prisoners in 2004. McIntyre has shied away from attacking him on that basis, but if this race remains close, other Democratic groups may not have the same restraint. This race goes from Safe Democratic to Likely Democratic.