RALEIGH, N.C. – Republican Sen. Richard Burr is reaching out to new North Carolina voters as he tries to build a base for re-election.

Burr’s campaign has started mailing cards to 45,000 newly registered voters in North Carolina, encouraging them to stay informed. He’s targeted both Republicans and those who are unaffiliated, trying to establish an early relationship with voters who could play a key role in whether Burr stays in office.

Democratic critics in Washington said Burr has stood in the way of the change that new voters want.

The number of registered voters in North Carolina grew by 12 percent in 2008. That’s nearly 700,000 voters. Many of those signed up as Democrats, rushing to support now-President Barack Obama.