The Eye

A longtime Democrat official, Marshall was the first woman to win statewide office in North Carolina and has been re-elected to her post three times.

Previously, she served two years in the state Senate. However, she lost her previous shot at a Senate run, finishing behind Erskine Bowles in the 2002 Democratic primary. Bowles went on to lose to Republican Elizabeth Dole that year.

Marshall would certainly not be a shoo-in against Burr.

A poll by the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling in March showed Burr leading by eight percent -- 43 percent to 35 percent, with 22 percent undecided. Burr's most worrying statistic in polls has been the low proportion of people who hold an opinion of him, indicating that more than four years into his first term he has yet to leave a strong impression on voters.

Fifty-three percent of respondents in the March poll had no opinion of Marshall, suggesting she, too, has a long way to go with voters, despite her statewide position.

Marshall, Mills said, had "no firm time line" for making a decision, noting that she wanted to make sure things in state government, including the state budget, were in order before kicking off a campaign.

He estimated an announcement could come in late summer or early fall.

Marshall would face Durham attorney Kenneth Lewis in a Democratic primary, and possibly former state Sen. Cal Cunningham, as well. Lewis is actively fundraising for a bid, while Cunningham has not made a formal decision.