Jim Hunt is campaigning again for Barack Obama.

The former governor will join former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus for two stops in Wilson and Goldsboro today. (Mabus has separate stops in Kinston and Lumberton.)

Though he stayed neutral in the Democratic primary, Hunt has campaigned vigorously for Obama in recent weeks, appearing at a James Taylor concert, speaking at the Raleigh Farmer's Market and attending a town hall meeting and a fundraiser.

In addition, his wife hosted former Sen. Jean Carnahan in Wilson for an Obama event.

In June, Hunt told Dome that he wasn't interested in a position in the Obama administration, though his schedule certainly looks like he's trying. (He's long been on the list of potential education secretaries in what turned out to be nonexistent Democratic administrations.)

Certainly, he's done more Obama events than Gov. Mike Easley, who might also be on the list.

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated the cities the two would stop in. 

KINSTON — Sen. Elizabeth Dole hit the barbecue circuit this week with a visit to King's Restaurant in Kinston. About 20 supporters showed up to greet her, wearing Elizabeth Dole stickers.

She shook their hands, went inside to greet customers and sat down for a plate of 'cue, hushpuppies, cabbage and fried chicken. And then she got up again to scoop up some banana pudding, Barb Barrett reports.

"I was impressed before she got here," said Glenn Jones, 66, who was eating with his wife, Joyce. "I think she's doing her job and doing it well, and I plan to vote for her again."

Dole also spoke briefly to an Exchange Club meeting in a back room, telling about 15 listeners of her push to drill domestically for new sources of oil and natural gas, and her bipartisan work to expand renewable resources as well.

She spent about an hour altogether, greeting more diners on her way out, including a fellow in a tie who nearly propositioned her.

"You have to put lipstick on before you kiss me! My wife would be (angry)," laughed Dave Merriam, who was eating with two colleagues.

He said later it was cool to meet a senator, but it wouldn't change his vote. "I'm a Democrat. I'm not voting for her. I just wanted to say hi to her."

Tropical Storm Fay has forced Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to scrub an unannounced trip through Eastern North Carolina this morning.

Obama had planned to fly from Orlando, Fla., to Kinston to hold a campaign event, Rob Christensen reports. He then would take a bus across Eastern North Carolina and make several unannounced stops on way to his rally in Raleigh tonight at the N.C. State Fairgrounds.

But the near-hurricane in Florida caused him to cancel the eastern swing. He is still scheduled to appear tonight in Raleigh.

Although the Eastern swing had not been announced, a group of Raleigh reporters were picked up in vans at the Fairgrounds Tuesday morning, and the vans made it as far as Wilson County.

The vans stopped in Sims and sat in the parking lot of Sam's Country Grill before the trip was canceled and the news media was returned to Raleigh.

Bill Clinton is coming back.

The former president will stump for his wife's presidential campaign in North Carolina on Friday, holding "Solutions for America" events in Roanoke Rapids and Rocky Mount.

The latter event will be at 9 p.m. at N.C. Wesleyan College.

On Saturday, he'll travel to Greenville, Wilson, Goldsboro, Kinston, New Bern and Jacksonville.

The Wilson event will be at 11:30 a.m. at Barton College. 

Further details on the trip are not yet available. 

All events are free and open to the public.