Barack Obama used his visit to Raleigh this evening to highlight his solutions to the country's ailing economy.

Obama urged the audience at the N.C. State Fairgrounds to reject John McCain's economic stratagies, which Obama described as an extension of President Bush's policies, reports Lynn Bonner.

"There's something wrong in the direction that we're heading in right now," Obama said.

Obama was introduced to the crowd of about 2,000 by Gloria Craven, a former millworker from Eden who lost her job when Pillowtex went bankrupt.

Obama said the United States needs to develop alternative fuels that will relieve the country's dependency on foreign oil and create jobs in North Carolina and across the country.

During the event's "town hall" format, Obama was asked about parenting in the African-American community.

Obama responded that to reduce the number of African-American men in jails and prison, the country needs to make sure that its criminal justice system is fair.

But he also said that "parents have to parent."

"Government can't do it all," he said.

Richard Moore unveiled an energy plan today.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidate called for promoting alternative fuels and energy sources, the state government more efficient and improve mass transit.

To promote alternative energy, Moore called for making the state government a leading consumer of alternative fuels, reforming utility rates to encourage conservation, encouraging research and condcuting long-range planning on energy generation.

He also said he would improve the energy efficiency of state buildings.

"The time to begin planning for a cleaner energy future is now," he said in a statement. "We can become a national leader in conservation and alternative energy, creating new businesses and an agricultural model that will ensure the prosperity of rural North Carolina for years to come."

Previously: Moore convenes global warming panel.

State Sen. Stan Bingham may be about to get some national television exposure.

But it's not about his work at the legislature. It's because he's something of an alternative fuel renegade, reports Lynn Bonner.

A reporter from CBS News has asked to interview the Davidson County Republican on Wednesday moprning about his VW Beetle, which has been converted to run on vegetable oil.

Bingham said he's ready to talk about what he considers the onerous mileage reporting the state Department of Revenue requires of drivers who, like him, want to drive cars that smell like french fries.

The state tax office wants mileage reports, Bingham says, so they can collect motor fuel taxes.