Barack Obama benefits from key backing in North Carolina

The bulwark of Hillary Clinton's campaign in, for her, must-win Pennsylvania has been the unstinting support she's received from an array of established politicos -- especially Gov. Ed Rendell, Rep. John Murtha, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl (subject of a Washington Post profile Wednesday, which takes note of his 10-Diet-Pepsi-a-day habit).

Increasingly, it appears Barack Obama will enjoy a similar advantage in North Carolina, the state he needs to win to help thwart whatever momentum Clinton would gain from a Pennsylvania victory on April 22.

The big statewide race being waged as part of the Tar Heel State's May 6 primary is the battle for the Democratic nomination to succeed popular, but term-limited, Gov. Mike Easley (also a Democrat). Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue (pictured at left) and state Treasurer Richard Moore (below) are trying mightily to differentiate themselves in the minds of voters. But on this they agree -- Obama is their choice in the party's presidential contest.

Perdue, in fact, felt compelled earlier this week to spotlight her previous endorsement of Obama, sending mailers to voters showing the two of them together. Moore, meanwhile, is running a television ad that notes he was the first gubernatorial contender to back Obama.

When the furor over Obama's preacher, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, erupted a few weeks back, one poll showed that what had been a solid lead for Obama in North Carolina had essentially evaporated. And around that time, Clinton dispatched one of her top ground-game specialists, the appropriately named "Ace" Smith, to the state.

But since then, several surveys have shown Obama opening up a wide lead in the state -- indeed, in some of the polls, his margin is of blowout proportions.

Neither Clinton nor Obama, understandably, have yet to personally focus much on North Carolina. But their most formidable advance guards -- their respective spouses -- have.

Bill Clinton stumped in the state for a day last week, and he returns there for a couple of events Friday evening and five on Saturday.

Michelle Obama spoke at North Carolina State University in Raleigh on Tuesday and drew a crowd, to say the least. Officials estimated it at close to 6,000 -- an audience, according to the campaign, that was the largest for her "that did not involve an appearance with celebrity Oprah Winfrey."

Once the Clinton campaign more fully engages, the North Carolina race almost assuredly will tighten (much as Obama seems to have narrowed the gap in Pennsylvania). Still, barring unforeseen circumstances, he should add North Carolina ....

to his win column. Which would put him where's he been before -- in position to deal a devastating blow to Hillary Clinton's prospects.

The other state with a May 6 primary is Indiana. Although it borders Obama's home state of Illinois, the Hoosier State's demographics are more akin to the Clinton strongholds of Ohio and Pennsylvania. And the few recent polls conducted in Indiana have contained good news for her.

The Clinton camp already has started spinning the state as tough turf for her because of its proximity to Illinois. But a double loss for her that day should significantly increase the "time to drop out" chorus that she's been trying to silence.

-- Don Frederick

Photo credits: North Carolina lieutenant governor's office (Perdue); North Carolina Democratic Party (Moore). 

Comments

[Cilla]

Allen Hoban at 6:03am said:

"A "Uniter" who has divided this nation into blacks against whites, young against old. A politician who claims to be "above it all" and yet his campaign has been dirtier than most."

Your claims are totally untrue and everybody knows it. Obama has a huge amount of support from whites. Please explain Iowa, Mr. Hoban. As for negative campaigning, huh? Obama's campaign could have been WAY nastier in response to the Clinton tactics, please. Lastly, how is it divisive to register people who DO live in the U.S. and ARE citizens!! You're saying that's a bad thing they are voting? That it is divisive to encourage CITIZENS to participate in our democracy? Please tell me how on earth that is patriotic. To be inclusive is to be a uniter. It's very plain your one and only problem with Obama and many of his supporters in North Carolina is the fact they are black. It's called racism. You're not very good at hiding it either.

[Cilla]

Oh right, like I'm going to listen to Texas Democrat at 8:37am. The state that gave us the Bush family and from one of the so-called Democrats that voted him into office. Twice. Because he represented patriotism and family valuuees! Yee haw.

[George Baton]

When comments are as long as Frank Villa's, you know their candidate is losing.

[Louis P. West]

Posted by: Salik | April 10, 2008 at 06:03 AM
And this quote is very disturbing:
"There will be four times as many African Americans voting in this primary. They all registered to vote recently, so they could vote for Obama."

Therefore Obama's only qualification is that he is part black! If true, then it is a shameful state of affairs.
-----
That previous statement is a leap and a half and amounts to a whole lot of poppycock.

What about the possibility that Obama's stance on particular issues align with the issues that matter to this community? I'd bet that if Hilary's views aligned with any community and she spent the time getting new people to participate in the democratic process, she would have that sort of support too. But she doesn't.

To me, it boils down to the fact that Obama cares enough about this country to get people to vote. Once people are registered, there is no saying they will vote for him. Just that they are voting. I applaud his dedication to the true democracy of the United States and I sincerely hope that people stop missing the forest for the trees.

[marc]

Wake-up America! That slogan talking Obama, that sound bite Obama, the I'll be whatever you hope for candidate, IS NOT the leader we need. Edwards is right about Hillary's UNIVERSAL Health Care plan. Hillary won the debates. Obama next to Hillary is pathetic when it comes to leading America out of the RECESSION. Vote for Obama on American Idol, not for president! Hillary can get the job done as OUR NEXT PRESIDENT.

[Lisa W]

Drop the attack on his church. It's not like they practice voodoo or sacrifice anyone. I am a 39 yr old white female and the man has character. If I judged YOUR church on what each individual thought about whites and blacks and hispanics and jews and asians, I am certain it wouldn't be much different. So what if it is coming out of the pulpit. So what if Wright dares to say what many people silently think. Wright''s overall mssg is to choose Jesus as your Savior. And I'll leave it up to God to decide Wright's fate and yours.
Meanwhile, I'm counting on you Pennsylvania to END this thing. It's in your court, MAKE HISTORY!

[lisaw]

Look, if the guy wants to help the POOR, wherever they may live, I am all for it. How can that be a bad thing?

Should he give tax cuts to Billionaires instead?

Oh, I know, you would rather spend 3 billion A DAY to kill and maim Americans and Iraqis with America's tax money.

[benwag]

So he wants to reduce global poverty. Shame on him.

So he wants to get lobbyists out of Washington. Shame on him.

I, for one, would love to see my tax money going to help the POOR on all continents, including this one.

Clinton uses millions of her supporter's money to payroll lobbyists for foreign governments. Ouch.

Mitt Romney is rich and used his own money to run. Hilary is rich, but only "loans" her campaign money when her supporters' money runs out.

I know so many of you (particulary women and my gay friends) support Hilary. But look who she is payrolling with your money. She cares about no one but Hilary Clinton. I really do believe that.

I would feel sad if Pennsylvania can't end this thing so we can all move on. Please Pennsylvania PLEASE, on my knees to you, end this thing for the good of ALL.

[bill]

please vote for Hillary often

[bill c]

Please vote for Barack!

[pay4me]

Oh, pleae please please vote for Obama!

[Lisa M]

I thought I was the only one who said Bush stole the election from Gore with the support of the Supreme Court.

I thought I was the only one who said "Declare War on Iraq, what?! They had nothing to DO with 911. Don't Americans know the difference between Afghanistan and Iraq?" "Can't they see this is a personal vendetta left over from the 1st Bush administration?" (Although as a footnote, I am glad Hussein is finally dead).

I thought I was the only one who saw Bush was an arrogant, underachieving, mega-rich, oil tycoon, warmonger whose family has financially benefited from wars since WWII when his grandfather sold arms to the Nazis. And his 'peeps' are the Fed's shareholders who have been trying since 1913 and the FEDERAL BANK ACT to gain the wealth the US, and the world.

I thought I was the only one who said Lobbyists should not run Washington.

I thought I was the only one with the character to speak out while everyone else waved flags on their cars (dirty and shredded).

And suddenly here is a politician who hs been saying the same stuff all along. A man of "character."

Rise up above your petty bickering Clinton supporters. Elect a PERSON who rises above it all with sound judgement. Don't be afraid to vote for a man. He is not responsible for what you have been through.
He wants to help Washington, help Americans, and help the Poor and Suffering everywhere. He's like Angelina without the boobs. But, he does have great teeth.

Alas I digress. Pennsylvania has the power to decide this thing and save us all some money. Get it over with Pennsylvania.

I am counting on you to see the light.

[Paul]

Clintonites are lying about the hospital story. The woman's GRANDMOTHER and the HOSPITAL both say Hillary has lied and harmed the mother's reputation.

[For Obama]

As an American citizen living in Europe, I have been following very closely the US Presidential nomination process. I used to like both Clinton and Obama. This is no longer the case. The more I know about Clinton's behavior, the more I dislike her. My respect for Obama is increasing and I am now his supporter. As we say in the Orient, Clinton has the "bee's sting" personality. She loves to attack and is stinging in her choice of words. She is also dishonest. Her extreme aggression and ill-chosen words will eventually bring her down. Once the bee has stung, it dies.

[Sam Winters]

Whenever I see Hillary on TV, She reminds me of QUEEN
NARISSA , the wicked Queen in the Movie "Enchanted"

[mike]

the more i hear her supporters, the more i hate her. it reminds me of what type of person she is. she is no good for this country. her ego is way out of control. "i'm a fighter, i'm a fighter"...americas need MORE than a fighter. you have to have the judgment to know when to fight, know when to stand down, know when to compromise, know when to stand firm, etc. she doesn't know how to do this, she just knows how to fight...slash and burn. americans are ready to unite and solve the problems of our day. no more fighting, get things done!

[Orion]

AMERICA WAKE UP, ITS TIME TO GET OVER REV. WRIGHT!!!
No body is really freaked out by what he said because everybody knows (white ppl, black ppl, chinese, mex, jews) that what he said IS BASICLY ALL TRUE!!!!!!!
ANY IDIOT WITH ANY COMMON SENSE KNOWS THAT THERE IS STILL RASICM IN AMERICA. AND IT DOES'NT MAKE YOU ANTI-WHITE JUST BECAUSE YOU POINT IT OUT.
The problem with America is that you people just want to sugar coat everything and push the problems under the rug as if they don't exist (just because you may not be directly affected.)
AND YES....SOME OF US (as well as white Christians) BELIEVE THAT USA BROUGHT ON 9/11 BY THE SEEDS IT HAS PLANTED, AND BY INCREASINGLY TURNING AWAY FROM GODLY VALUES!!!

Do you really think that Obama is planning on getting into office so he can oppress white people???? GIVE ME A BREAK!!

What we need is a President who has sense enough to see this country for what it really is, and not some POLITICALLY CORRECT WHIMP who is just a people pleaser. How are you going to erase the line of racism if you are TOO AFRAID TO POINT IT OUT.

I'M VOTING FOR OBAMA

[deborah]

Yes, James, there is a good article--just one, from January 10, 2008--about Obama's church at Factcheck.org. It's titled : "Sliming Obama, Dueling chain e-mails claim he's a radical Muslim or a 'racist' Christian. Both can't be right. We find both are false."

The article disputes as "sliming" the viral statements about Obama's church that you claim it proves. Perhaps you need to recheck Fact Check before you use it as a source for these incendiary statements. Maybe you're referring to the chain e-mail Fact Check labeled "false." It's always a good idea to double check facts about candidates found in reader comments (or anywhere). If we're all going to act like citizen journalists, we need to do the legwork.

[Phantom]

Reading all these emails containing this hatred and animosity, I feel sorry for all of you. This country is going to the dogs....this is what happens when they take religion out of schools. You need someone to pray for you all.....what ever happen to "love one another". You are all to far gone to help.

[NinaK]

please vote for Hillary

Posted by: roxey |
----------------------
roxey, NO WAY!!

Hilliary's credentials:

Fraudulent claims of superior experience, including: "I remember landing in Bosnia amidst sniper fire, we had to put our heads down and run to our cars" COMPLETE fabrication!! To add injury to insult, she then goes on the Jay Leno Show and jokes and laughs about being late because "I got caught in sniper fire". Talk about insulting our troops who have dies under actual sniper fire, bombs, roadside bombs, carbombs, and all kinds of other attacks. How about the thousands who have been severely injured as a result of these types of attacks?? By her fraudulant claims regarding sniper fire and then joking and laughing about it DISQUALIFIES HER AS COMMANDER AND CHIEF!!

Cannot lead and or manage her campaign team, consistent inflighting, BIG shakeups, etc.

Cannot budget properly and wisely, went broke and had to lend her own campaign $5 Million

Hires Penn as a campaign strategist....while at the same time he continues to fullfil his duites as a lobbyist, goes to Colombia to make a deal for NAFTA, which Hilliary claims she opposes. Yeah, right! He was probably representing Hillary and Bill. She cannot fire him, so still has him on as a strategy advisor and his company as her pollers. Why can't she fire him completely??? She's afraid he will spill the beans. Remember, Colombia said they did not know whether he was there representing Hillary or his company....must have been a VERY interesting meeting.

Bill passed the NAFTA legislation and Hillary was one of its main supporters (per her White House records), now she lies about it says that is not so. Say anything, do anything to get those votes!

Throws Gov Richardson under the bus because he chose to endorse Senator Obama! An endorsement she and Bill greatly begged for and coveted.

Lies, Lies, more Lies, one on top of the other

NO, Thanks, NOT HILLARY, NOT NOW, NOT EVER!!

I want a President of Good Character, INTEGRITY, HONESTY, Vision, leadership and managerial skills (just look at Senator Obamas wonderful campaign!), Good Judgement, Wisdom, and, yes, the ability to communicate eloquently and sincerely.

[Stella H. Brinkley]

We need to defeat John "Shifty" McCain NOW.

We've already had 63 years of half-wit bumbling stumbling incompetency in the White House, AND we DO NOT need any more Clintons.

Hillary should drop out of the race NOW, pay her bills, and let us start to go after McCain right now. This is urgent. McCain is already "even" according to MSM polls.

'O-8 !!!

[NinaK]

Actually, new poll out today, Thursday, 10 April 2008:

Senator Obama still gaining in Pennsylvania; Hilliary is ONLY 4 points ahead of Senator Obama!!! A big drop from a week ago! We still have two weeks to go!!

We" do not understand why there are so many articles that try to make it appear that Mr.Obama is some how leading or tied with Mrs. Clinton in the Pennsylvania. Yet the same story says that Mrs.Clinton has a 9 point lead. Actully "We" do know why. This is a way to make it appear that when he loses in a state that no one expected him to win in the first place, this will some how become a huge problem for Mr.Obama. Even before the next race in N.C. they are predicting "Blow Outs." Is that a way to make it appear that when, or, if, Mr.Obama win in N.C. by a lesser margin than the "news" is predicting , Mr.Obama will made to look like a loser? What "WE" are asking is why not just be fair and equal with both Mrs.Clinton and Mr.Obama. Race is being made an issue of. How many white people is voting for this one, how many black voters are for that one. The Only thing that has been made clear., is that the people backing Mr.Obama care more about the party then the candidate. "we" are not so angry or foolish as to vote republican if our man is not nominated. Why, or what, would drive people to say that before they would vote for a man who is clearly capable of doing what is right, and good America, they would cross party lines? If the person was a good choice "We" too would cross the line,because "We"care more for "Our" country, than any one person. But to know the Republicans and what they have done to this country, as well as to this country, "We"find it scary that there is such an amount of hate for Mr.Obama that they would actully put McCain in the white house. It appears the bar is raised and lowered for Mrs.Clinton according to which posistion is to her advantage. "We" leave it to you.

Posted by: We The People

[bruce becker]

Pastor John Hagee on TBN says that God has Damned America. Pastor Hagee backs John McCain. Pat Roberts the evangelical on the 700 club said that God has Damed America because of it acceptance of homosexuals. This Rev has also backed John McCain. Now are you going to ask McCain to disenfranchise these two ministers?
What is the difference between Hagee, Roberts and Wright? One is black.

[russell henson]

It's so amusing to see folks try to paint Obama as anti-white when he is white. Are they saying he hates his mom and grandmother that raised him? It's so hard being of "mixed race" when folks from either side try to make you "pick a race." When all is said and done, we are all members of the human race. This race debate is something that people in the future will laugh at how primitive our perception was at the turn of the twenty first century.

[bruce becker]

NinaK

There are several companies doing polling.
One poll in Pennsylvania interviews 1400 persons, which makes it more accurate than any of the other polls. It showed Obama leading by 2%, last week.
The one in which Clinton is leading by 6% interviewed only 600 persons, last week.
That is why there are different stories.
It takes 3000 interviews, properly spread, to do accurate polling. But because the actual election in Pennsylvania is by Congressional district, and delegates are elected by Congressional district, not statewide, no one is polling enough people to be accurate.
For example, the poll you may see that shows one candidate ahead on a national poll is meaningless, because in the general election, the meaningful result is by state, not by national total and not by Congressional district. For example in the Texas primary the delegates were elected by Texas state senate district by a % formula that took into account whether the senate district had voted 30 to 70% in the previous two general elections, so while Clinton did very well in south Texas, those senate districts did not win her many delegates because the Latinos who came out in droves this year did not bother to vote much in the two previous general elections.
So we are seeing various pieces depending the ideas of the polling companies, as to whom to interview in Penn.
Also a difficulty: None of them are interviewing young people who use cell phones exclusively, and 200,000 new voters were registered in Pa, and no one knows who they will vote for, because if they do not own a land line phone they are not being polled at all.