Bill James looked every inch the Republican Poster Boy as he addressed a roomful of lunching and listening Republican women this week.

Wearing the requisite Republican uniform - dark suit and yellow power tie emblazoned with dancing elephants - the accountant played to the very friendly conservative crowd.

A few minutes later, Misenheimer replaced James on the podium. The flag disappeared as the retired pastor unfurled his 6'8'' frame.

``I've been out in the neighborhoods . . . knocking on doors, and what I hear is that folks are tired of bickering between Republicans and Democrats,'' Misenheimer said. ``We've seen far too little positive action since my opponent and his four colleagues commandeered the county commission (and) split us up into little suspicious camps.''

Misenheimer ranked lower on the club's applause-o-meter.

``I paid 12 bucks and ended up the appetizer,'' he said later. ``Now I know how Daniel in the lion's den feels.''

With four days before the primary, the District 6 Republican race has grown increasingly testy and personal. Neither candidate likes the other very much, nor his opponent's brand of Republicanism. The winner faces either C.J. ``Dink'' Nolen or Everette Passaly, the Democratic candidates.

Misenheimer is the moderate, uptown-friendly Republican. James is more conservative, relying on the moral and financial support of suburbanites and religious conservatives.

Misenheimer occasionally evinces the deer-in-the-headlight look of a political neophyte. James is a one-man campaign machine, drafting endorsement letters for supporters to later revise and send out.

Neither lacks confidence.

``We never perhaps see ourselves as others see us,'' Misenheimer said. ``But I really take people into account and that typically leaves no room for arrogance or aloofness.''

Said James, ``What I am is someone who's very confident in the beliefs I hold. While I'm willing to listen to the other side, I'm not willing to bend.''

Especially on social issues. On the stump this spring, James rarely failed to remind voters that he was the force behind a law mandating parents be notified before their children get advice about sex from a county-funded counselor.

He says homosexuality ``is against the law.'' He argued passionately to cut funding for the Arts & Science Council. His first date with wife Julie was to a church concert.

``Bill has been the model of integrity, decency, leadership and civility,'' Barrett Mosbacker, headmaster of Covenant Day School, wrote in a fund-raising letter sent to 6,000 evangelical Christians. ``Bill's moral leadership deserves our support.''

Though James is trying to cast himself as the most moral candidate, Misenheimer was a Lutheran pastor for 25 years.

``Being a pastor of a Christian church, I've spent a lifetime discussing moral issues,'' Misenheimer said during a debate earlier this week. ``It may not be a moral code everybody subscribes to, (but) leadership to me is not imposing my beliefs, my values on other people.''

Misenheimer, who says he'd work to restore the Arts & Science Council's budget, believes commissioners waste time legislating morality. Others agree.

``Let's fix the roads, make sure development out there is done in a manner that enhances neighborhoods and doesn't destroy them,'' said Stan Campbell, head of a moderate, business-oriented group that recruited Misenheimer. ``Let's make sure our kids get a quality education and have the resources to do it. Those are the issues.''

Both Misenheimer and James support full school funding. They're against a landfill proposed for south Mecklenburg, another hot-button issue in District 6. But that's about all they agree on.

James lambastes Misenheimer's ties to the uptown crowd, repeatedly referring to them as ``liberals.'' He frequently reminds folks that Misenheimer last year switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican.

Misenheimer hammers away at the ``quality of leadership'' - or lack thereof - James brings to the county board.

Together for one awkward moment earlier this week, Misenheimer and James were asked if they liked each other.

``You're not really my type of candidate,'' Misenheimer, smiling weakly, told James.

``I may not be,'' James quickly retorted, ``but you'll be my constituent come May 5.''

Reach Dan Chapman at (704) 358-5168 or danchap at charlotte.com .