Editor's note: This is the first in four U.S. Senate candidate profiles that will be posted in this space during the next few days to help voters get a better idea of who's running in the May 4 Democratic Primary.
Marcus Williams is the only Democrat running for the U.S. Senate that answers the phone at his campaign headquarters (in his case, it's also his law practice).
"Attorney Williams," he says, in a deep bellowing voice.
He's also the only one who can defeat Richard Burr, he says.
"I believe I am the one person who can beat him because I'm most experienced in the things that matter," the Lumberton lawyer said. "We're sharper on the issues in an extensive and broad way and I can handle Mr. Burr in a debate, and that's going to show."
Numbers don't back that up, though. Williams doesn't even show up in surveys by Public Policy Polling and the Rasmussen Reports and he finished third in the Democratic Primary during the 2008 U.S. Senate race, more than 600,000 votes short of Kay Hagan's total.
So what makes him so sure?
"My mom used to say I was hyperactive, but my involvement has been extensive in the community," he said.