Wilmington attorney Michael Lee, who carried the GOP banner against Julia Boseman in 2008, has officially announced plans to seek the Republican nomination against in 2010, this time for the open seat resulting from Boseman’s retirement. Another local attorney, Thom Goolsby, has already jumped into the race with both feet.

Keep in mind that this 9th district is one of the most competitive in North Carolina. Republican Patrick Ballantine held a similar for several terms before leaving to run against Mike Easley in the 2004 gubernatorial race. Boseman then won the seat and held it through a couple of very expensive contests. According to the Civitas Institute Partisan Index, this district is an R-3 — meaning that, in a “normal” election year, it has a slight GOP tilt but obviously can be won by a Democratic candidate who combines a significant fundraising advantage and some good fortune.

Whoever the Democratic nominee is will likely achieve half of that, the campaign-cash advantage. The other half may be more problematic.

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