Barack Obama's campaign has announced only one mayoral endorsement in North Carolina.

More announcements will roll out in the next few weeks, however.

According to a March 11 story in the Durham Herald-Sun, Durham Mayor Bill Bell has taken the lead in persuading other mayors to back Obama.

That's probably in part payback for Obama's endorsement of Bell before the November mayoral race.

Along with Bell and Greensboro Mayor Yvonne Johnson, the story also quotes Bell saying Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker, Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy, Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy, Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson and Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton have endorsed Obama.

"Bell said there are other mayors who have 'committed but not come out publicly yet' for Obama, in towns both large and small," wrote reporter Ray Gronberg.

Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton's thoughts on the recent meeting of the N.C. Metropolitan Coalition:

"In a way the most interesting thing was watching Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory in action since the rumors were swirling around about his [running for governor]," Chilton said. "He certainly struck me as a level-headed guy."

Hampton Dellinger, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, had a jazzy fundraiser over the weekend featuring saxophonist Branford Marsalis.

The event drew 145 people at Hopper's Piano Showroom in Raleigh. Among those who spoke at the event was Raleigh attorney Wade Smith, a former state Democratic Party chairman, Rob Christensen reports.

Others attending included Durham Mayor Bill Bell, Pittsboro Mayor Randy Voller, and state Reps. Larry Hall, Ty Harrell and Deborah Ross. The event ended a a kick off fundraising swing for Dellinger, a Raleigh attorney and former legal counsel to Gov. Mike Easley.

One of Dellinger's competitors, Winston-Salem City Councilman Dan Besse, had a meet-the candidate event in Chapel Hill on Sunday. The event was hosted by Dave Moreau, chairman of the N.C. Environmental Management Commission, and his wife Polly; Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton; and John Runkle, an environmental attorney.