Thirty hours after Roy Cooper’s announcement and just as the Democratic presidential debate was ending, Deborah Ross announced for US Senate. If she and Cooper do as well the rest of the way as they did their first day, Democrats will be celebrating in 13 months.

Her announcement video was strong. It introduced her, “rooted” her and preempted what Republicans think will be a negative: her work with the ACLU. Basically, her response will be, “You got a problem with the Constitution and Bill of Rights? That’s what I fought for.”

The GOP response was as lame as it was to Cooper’s. Dallas Woodhouse said she announced “under the cover of darkness when she thought no one would notice.” No, she announced when the activist Democrats she needed to reach first were pumped and primed by the debate.

Somebody should tell Dallas about the 24-hour news cycle.

Ross needs to get more comfortable on camera, but she started strong. She’ll be a strong candidate and a tough opponent for Richard Burr.

After the debate and the Cooper and Ross announcements, North Carolina Democrats are feeling good this week.