THIS WEEK: NY Times Calls Ross "Fierce" and "Energetic," and Calls For National Attention to Race as Burr Continues Silence on HB2 and Even Embattled Governor Pat McCrory Calls on Burr and Congress to Get Off the Sidelines

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Some of the most interesting crosswinds of American politics blow through this state.

Take the recently passed measure known as H.B. 2. It's the law that mandates that people use bathrooms corresponding to the gender on their birth certificates.

But it went much, much further than that supposed solution to a nonexistent problem, overriding local anti-discrimination statutes. Many prominent companies denounced it. Some withdrew business from the state -- or are threatening to. Conventions have been canceled. Tourism has declined. By some estimates, the state has already lost tens of millions of dollars.

"I'm talking to businesspeople all the time," Deborah Ross told me when I sat down with her in Raleigh last week. "They are livid."

Ross is the Democratic challenger to Senator Richard Burr. She's a fierce underdog: an articulate, energetic lawyer who served for decades in the legislature. She'd be the third woman sent to the Senate by North Carolinians, after Elizabeth Dole and Kay Hagan.

ICYMI: Raleigh News and Observer: NC Tourist Industry Concerned About HB2 Fallout

Tourism agencies from Asheville to the Outer Banks have been hearing from out-of-state travelers who oppose the law and say they've crossed North Carolina off their list of destinations.

The economic impact of losing vacationers is hard to measure. Canceled conventions have drawn more attention because they come with dollar figures: Wake County, for example, estimates that House Bill 2-related cancellations have resulted in more than $3 million in lost revenue. Canceled conventions worth millions have also been reported in Charlotte and Greensboro.

Emerald Isle Realty, which manages about 700 vacation homes in the Carteret County beach community, has been keeping tabs on its losses. The company has been hearing from repeat customers who say they won't be coming this year, and so far it's added up to 29 nights of rentals and $20,000 in revenue.

"I've been with this company for 15 years, and this is the first time we've had something like this," director of reservations Katrina Brienza said. "It is very unfortunate to hear."

In Wrightsville Beach, Blockade Runner Beach Resort owner Mary Baggett has also been hearing from families who are changing their plans. One family that had planned a four-night stay at the hotel is heading instead to the "more progressive state of South Carolina," she said, describing the conversation to the Lumina News.

ICYMI: TIME: North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory Blames Congress for Transgender Bathroom Controversy

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, under fire for signing into law a bill that forces transgender residents to use the bathroom that corresponds to their sex at birth, is blaming Congress for not updating the nation's civil rights laws.

"As a country, Congress needs to step up and clarify the Civil Rights Act, which hasn't been updated for decades," McCrory said by phone on Wednesday. "A lot of things have changed since then, including the Supreme Court decision on gay marriage. There's been dramatic change."

ICYMI: Morning Consult: Richard Burr Will Campaign With Trump in North Carolina

This week, Frank Bruni of the New York Times described Deborah Ross as an articulate and energetic "fierce underdog" whose momentum may mean "the Koch brothers and other big G.O.P. donors will flood this state with money." This comes as Ross has closed the race against the unpopular incumbent Senator Burr to just two points.

Also this week, the state's senior Senator, Richard Burr, continued his refusal to help North Carolina find a positive way forward on HB2 as tourism agencies from Asheville to the Outer Banks reported economic hits as a result of the discriminatory law -- even saying that out-of-state travelers have "crossed North Carolina off their list of destinations" and instead will head to the "more progressive state of South Carolina." Meanwhile, embattled Governor Pat McCrory is calling for Senator Burr and Congress to step up and show some leadership.

Burr continued his embrace of Donald Trump -- as it has become clear that Richard Burr's record in Washington over the past 20 years is so out of touch with the people of North Carolina that he would rather defend Donald Trump's record than his own.

Finally, the Cumberland County commissioners voted unanimously Monday night to support Patricia Timmons-Goodson's nomination to the North Carolina Eastern District Court -- a nomination Burr continues to block as he ignores his constitutional duties and his responsibility to the people in the 44 counties of the Eastern District.

ICYMI: New York Times: Where Republican Dreams Die?

Let's gawk at North Carolina.

If Donald Trump drags down Republicans across the board, this is one of the places where they'll flail. … One of the state's two Republican senators is facing a tougher re-election battle than was predicted just months ago. Democrats are circling. Make that drooling.

Republican Sen. Richard Burr wants no distance between himself and the likely Republican presidential nominee, telling a local news station Thursday he would campaign with Donald Trump if he goes to North Carolina.

"I've supported Donald Trump. I'll campaign with Donald Trump in North Carolina," he said. "I'm supportive of his presidency and I believe what America needs is new leadership. We don't need a third term of Barack Obama."

ICYMI: Fayetteville Observer: Cumberland commissioners back Timmons-Goodson for federal judgeship

Cumberland County commissioners voted unanimously Monday night to support Patricia Timmons-Goodson's nomination for a federal court judgeship.

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina has said he will block Timmons-Goodson from being seated.

The judgeship, which covers 44 counties, has been empty for more than 10 years.

"We further extend well wishes and trust that Patricia Timmons-Goodson will be confirmed by the U. S. Senate to fill this longstanding vacancy in eastern North Carolina's federal courts," the resolution says.

Commissioners' vice-chairman Glenn Adams spoke in favor of Timmons-Goodson.

"I can tell you there's no finer person, no finer judge who has served this community than Patricia Timmons-Goodson," he said.

Commissioners' Chairman Marshall Faircloth spoke just before the vote.

"Patricia Timmons-Goodson is a friend of everybody on this dais and everybody in this room," he said. "She's well deserving of the honor that's been bestowed on her."

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