While the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is openly backing former state Sen. Cal Cunningham in North Carolina’s Senate primary, Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D) has thrown his support behind underdog attorney Kenneth Lewis (D).

Lewis, who like Butterfield is black, is a Winston-Salem native who clerked for a state Supreme Court justice and has worked for law firms in Charlotte, Raleigh and Durham. Lewis served as a fundraiser for President Barack Obama’s 2004 Senate campaign and last year helped lead financial operations in the Tar Heel State for Obama’s presidential campaign.

“Ken Lewis’ experience in business and community development make him uniquely qualified to represent North Carolina in the U.S. Senate,— Butterfield said in a statement released through Lewis’ campaign. “We share a heartfelt belief in the responsibility of making a difference in the lives of others and in our communities.—

Lewis has yet to release his fourth-quarter fundraising report. He had $184,000 in cash on hand as of Sept. 30.

Cunningham, who didn’t announce his candidacy until Dec. 7, has said his campaign brought in $320,000 by Dec. 31.

Also in the race is state Secretary of State Elaine Marshall (D), who ran in the 2002 open-seat race but finished third in the primary. She ended the third quarter with $164,000 in cash on hand.

The winner of the primary will take on Sen. Richard Burr (R) in November.