Hillary Clinton's campaign opened her North Carolina headquarters this evening.

About 100 people attended the hourlong kickoff, including Wake County commissioners Lindy Brown and Betty Lou Ward, fundraiser Richard Sullivan and former Democratic Party chairman Tom Hendrickson, who owns the building near Raleigh's trendy Glenwood South area.

Hendrickson noted that the Clinton campaign brought in organizer Ace Smith to head up its North Carolina campaign, after similar efforts in California and Texas.

"They have sent us the A-team," he said. 

Spokeswoman Cary Lindauer said that the campaign will open about a dozen offices around the state in the next few weeks, beginning with Charlotte. The state headquarters will also double as the Raleigh field office.

The crowd also included Gene Conti, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation from 1998 to 2000; Mike Schaul, a member of the N.C. Democratic Party's executive committee; and noted open space advocate Sig Hutchinson, who said he came because of his wife.

The guest who attracted the most attention, however, was Hendrickson's long-haired Chihuahua, Izzy. Several people in the campaign took turns holding the puppy during the event. 

Another endorsement for Barack Obama came this afternoon, a little by accident.

Wake County Commissioner Harold Webb, squeezed past Dome in a crowded group of young Democrats to shake hands with John Edwards.

Dome, who covered Webb back when we were WakePol, asked if he was going to endorse in the Democratic presidential primary.

"Later," he said.

We asked who he would endorse.

"Obama," he answered.

While he didn't say how much later, Dome had expected he meant more than three seconds, but the cat's out of the bag now.

Two of Webb's Democratic colleagues on the county board, Lindy Brown and Betty Lou Ward, endorsed Clinton at a speech at Wake Tech.

Wake County Commissioner Betty Lou Ward met Hillary Clinton in the late 1980s at a Jefferson-Jackson Day breakfast in Raleigh.

The then-First Lady of Arkansas traveled to the City of Oaks to present some ideas on early childhood programs, Sam LaGrone reports.

Ward asked Clinton for some more information which Clinton sent along with a signed hand-written note, which Ward later chucked.

"What a shame I didn't save that note," Ward said.

Ward was one of two commissioners who introduced Clinton this morning at a speech at Wake Tech. 

Hillary Clinton is coming out now, flanked by Wake County commissioners Lindy Brown and Betty Lou Ward.

"We all know that this is trying times in our nation's history," Brown said in a brief introduction. "We're struggling with a failing economy, the burden of skyrocketing gas prices, increased college tuition and the high cost of health care."

Ward then spoke briefly, calling Wake Tech a "great economic developer in our community."

She said she first met Clinton 20 years ago at a political event, when the then first lady of Arkansas was promoting an early childhood program.

Ward said afterward Clinton sent her a handwritten note, which she regrettably threw away.

Taking the stage a minute later, Clinton said she'd make it up to her.

"Betty Lou, I'll send you another note," Clinton said.

"From the White House," yelled a man in the audience.

"... on White House stationery," Clinton added.

David Young, a Democratic candidate for treasurer, raised more than $60,000 at fundraiser Wednesday at the home of former Ambassador Jeanette and Wallace Hyde in Raleigh.

Among those who attended were Wake County Commissioner Betty Lou Ward, philanthropist Ann Goodnight; Blue Cross/Blue Shield CEO Bob Greczyn; former Lt. Gov. Bob Jordan; former Glaxo chairman Charlie Sanders; former state Democratic chair Wayne McDevitt; former Texas oilman Walter Davis, and Raleigh real estate executives Steve Stroud and Roddy Jones.

Young, a Buncombe County commissioner, raised the money in the home town of two his opponents — Raleigh attorney Michael Weisel and state Sen. Janet Cowell. They are seeking to succeed incumbent Richard Moore, who is running for governor.