Venkat R. Challa, 55, who ran for the Republican primaries to decide on a Senate candidate from North Carolina against heavy-weights with star power like Elizabeth Dole, was predictably routed in the seven-way race. Challa said he was disappointed with the response from the Indian-American community to his candidature, but will work to build his next campaign.

Dole, a former cabinet secretary in the Reagan and old-Bush administrations, routed virtually all the other candidates by taking an overwhelming number of votes to run as the Republican candidate in November from the seat held for five terms by Sen. Jesse Helms. She will be facing off against the Democractic Party heavy-weight and former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles who defeated nine contenders in his primary.

The Elur, Andhra Pradesh-born Challa, a graduate of Tirupati Sri Venkateshwara Medical School and Osmania University, emigrated to the United States in 1974. He is a pathologist and lives in Winston-Salem, N.C. with his wife and children. He told News India-Times that he had begun planning to run last October, but could not raise enough funds.

“I don’t think I had all the experience, all the organizational skills necessary, but you have to start somewhere,” Challa admitted.

He said he used some of his own money for radio advertising, cinema theater and newspaper ads, and took every opportunity to meet various county organizations. His reasons for running in the face of defeat, Challa said, was because he believed he could contribute to the process and empower teachers and doctors, very few of whom get into politics. His post-primary party was held with a private group of some 10 closest supporters, he said.