A spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee says North Carolina will not be a battleground in November.

Regional press secretary Katie Wright said that recent claims by James Carville and Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle that the state could be in play are not credible. She compared them to predictions in 2004 that John Edwards would help deliver the state.

In that election, North Carolina supported Bush by about 13 points.

"I highly doubt that two of the Senate's most liberal members are going to win in a state that Republicans have not only won by double digits the last two cycles but hasn't voted Democratic since 1976," Wright said in an e-mail to Dome. "We are confident North Carolina voters will continue to see the stark contrast between the Democrat candidates and John McCain's experience, knowledge and positive vision for the future."

She noted that Republicans haven't lost in North Carolina since 1976.

James Carville argued that North Carolina could be in play in November.

At this weekend's Young Democrats convention, the political commentator said that Virginia, Arkansas and Florida will likely be battleground states in the presidential election this fall.

Louisiana, Tennessee and North Carolina could also be open to Democrats, he argued, though the deeper South, especially South Carolina, would be "problematical."

Carville advised Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign, which campaigned heavily in North Carolina. He pointed out that it was the only state they targeted that they didn't win.

"We came close," he said.

He argued that if North Carolina goes Democratic in November, it will be "good news" for the party.

"You couldn't write a map that the Democrats could carry North Carolina and lose the general election," he said. "There's no map that (Republicans) could lose North Carolina and win the general election. There are a lot of maps where Democrats could lose North Carolina and win."

James Carville practiced his shtick at the Young Democrats convention Saturday.

The so-called "Ragin' Cajun" said although the Democratic group was celebrating its 80th anniversary, he had to be fair and note that the Young Republicans were older.

"The Young Republicans were founded in 1924, when John McCain was their keynote speaker," Carville said.

Later, Carville asked the audience if he was joking too much.

"Y'all want to have some fun?" he said. "The hell with all this political business, huh?"

More of Carville's jokes after the jump.

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James Carville argued that a prolonged Democratic primary fight will not hurt the party's chances in November.

Speaking at a luncheon at the Young Democrats convention in Research Triangle Park, the political commentator said that the issues driving voters — the economy, the war in Iraq and health care — will still push them into the Democratic column.

He said that the volunteers and fundraisers on the losing side would support the Democratic nominee whenever the primary is over, although he specifically mentioned the day after the North Carolina primary twice.

"On May 7, we're all going to be united," he said. "Because you know more than anybody the effects that this administration is having on your life, your future, and you want to take that back."

Earlier, Carville called North Carolina and Indiana "ground zero" for the nomination fight, provided that Clinton wins Pennsylvania as expected.

He also argued that voters want a chance to participate.

"What's so awful about having a primary here in North Carolina?" he asked, rhetorically.

Carville has been a supporter of Hillary Clinton's campaign, although he was not officially speaking at the event as her surrogate.

James Carville had four "angels" on hand today.

At a press conference at the Young Democrats convention, the Democratic political commentator at one point asked for coffee, and a twentysomething woman quickly produced a cup.

Her name tag identified her as "Carville's angel."

The woman, Erica Porter, 26, works as an administrative assistant in Raleigh and is a member of the Wake County chapter of the Young Democrats. She said she was one of four "angels" assigned to keep Carville happy during the event.

She was "Pink." She said the other three were "Yellow," "Green" and "Brown."

Kind of like "Reservoir Dogs," we guess.

Jim Neal called out James Carville at the Young Democrats convention.

At a private reception before his luncheon speech, the Democratic political consultant and commentator met with Young Democrats and others who paid $50 a ticket.

The reception was closed to the press, but Neal and others described what happened inside to Dome afterward.

At one point, Carville said that North Carolina has a great Senate candidate in Kay Hagan, noting that he had just spoken with her daughter, Carrie.

Neal, who is running against Hagan for the Democratic nomination, spoke out from the back of the room.

"I said, 'We have primaries here in North Carolina. We don't have coronations,'" Neal said later.

He said Carville did not respond.

"It was the first time I've ever seen him quiet," Neal said.

James Carville's chair almost broke during a press conference.

The Democratic political consultant leaned back at one point and the chair made a loud noise and Carville shifted uncomfortably.

"I need a trial lawyer," he joked, garnering a loud laugh from the assembled journalists in the room. "Where's John Edwards when you need him?"

James Carville said that North Carolina could be "ground zero" in the presidential primary.

The political commentator, a supporter of Hillary Clinton, said at a press conference at today's Young Democrats convention that if she wins Pennyslvania, then the election will be determined by the May 6 primaries in Indiana and North Carolina.

If Clinton loses Pennsylvania, where she's currently ahead in the polls, he said it will be hard for her campaign to continue, Carville said.

Carville said that he does not think Clinton should drop out of the race, despite calls from some Democrats and media commentators, saying that his experience with voters in Texas and at this morning's convention in Research Triangle Park was that they want a chance to participate.

Though he is in the same building as John Edwards, Carville said he will not be lobbying the former North Carolina senator to endorse Clinton.

"I think he's got people bigger than me twisting his arm," he said. 

About 200 college students and twentysomethings are expected at today's Young Democrats convention.

The annual convention has attracted more attention this year because of the added importance of the state's May 6 presidential primary.

Among the speakers today: Former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton, former U.S. Sen. John Edwards, state House Speaker Joe Hackney, CNN commentator James Carville, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, state party chairman Jerry Meek, and state reps. Tricia Cotham and Ty Harrell.

Clinton is here as a surrogate for her mother; Booker, for Barack Obama. 

The definition of "young" is a little fluid, since it includes anyone up to the age of 35. (That's basically anyone not yet qualified to run for president.)

The event is being held at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Research Triangle Park. 

Chelsea Clinton. James Carville. Cory Booker. John Edwards.

Those are some of the names who will be making the rounds at the Young Democrats of North Carolina's statewide convention Saturday at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Research Triangle Park.

If you can't make the event yourself, check us out tomorrow. Dome will also be making the rounds Saturday, and reporting back on the blog.