Gov. Mike Easley is going to endorse U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, according to Tom Hendrickson, a former state Democratic party chairman who is a key Clinton supporter in North Carolina.

Easley agreed to the endorsement after returning from an economic development trip to Italy, reports Rob Christensen. Clinton is expected to fly to Raleigh on Tuesday for a joint event with Easley.

"We are excited about this opportunity," Hendrickson said.

Easley's office declined to comment.

An Easley endorsement would be the first endorsement for Clinton from a major North Carolina political figure. Three members of North Carolina's congressional delegation have endorsed Sen. Barack Obama.

Easley does not have the same sort of political machine that Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania used to help deliver votes for Clinton in that state.

But Easley is popular with rural, white, blue-collar Democrats, the sort of voters that Clinton has successfully targeted in wins in Pennslyvania and Ohio.

The Clintons have been quietly courting Easley, who is also a Democratic superdelegate, for months. Former President Bill Clinton has had numerous telephone conversations with Easley.

Former Gov. Jim Hunt and his wife Carolyn showed at a Wilson rally over the weekend for former President Bill Clinton.

Hunt, the former four-term governor who is still probably the state’s most influential Democrat, has not endorsed in the May 6 Democratic primary, Rob Christensen reports.

But Hunt likely knows how his appearance the Clinton rally is likely to be perceived.

Hunt’s former chief political lieutenant, former state Democratic chair Betty Rae McCain introduced Clinton at the Wilson rally. And helping Hillary Clinton in the state are a number of top Hunt loyalists including former state party chairman Tom Hendrickson, Winston-Salem businessman Bert Bennett and Jane Patterson, the former secretary of administration.

Hunt and Bill Clinton had a close working relationship. Hunt’s last two terms as governor coincided with Clinton’s presidency.

Earlier: Hunt endorsement would matter. 

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. 

A few more people in the audience at the Hillary Clinton event at Wake Tech today:

Former Raleigh City Councilman Mort Congleton, former state Democratic chairman Tom Hendrickson and Clinton fundraiser Richard Sullivan. 

Former President Bill Clinton will meet with key supporters later today at a reception at the Raleigh home of former Ambassador Jeannette Hyde.

“It’s actually for people willing to endorse Hillary Clinton or be on the statewide steering committee,” Hyde told Rob Christensen. “It’s kind of a briefing on the campaign and a thank you.”

Clinton will attend the private event after first appearing at public events in Charlotte and Cary.

Helping put the event together is former state Democratic chairman Tom Hendrickson, a Raleigh businessman. Among those expected to attend are former state Democratic chairwoman Barbara Allen, and Jane Patterson, a former secretary of administration.

Among the North Carolinians expected to endorse Clinton — although not attending tonight’s event — are retired Charlotte bank executive Hugh McColl; Hugh Shelton, the former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff; and poet Maya Angelou, according to Hyde.

State Sen. Walter Dalton raised more than $100,000 in Raleigh Wednesday night in his race for lieutenant governor.

The event, held at the home of Wallace and Jeanette Hyde, a former U.S. ambassador, showed Dalton's support among the Democratic establishment, Rob Christensen reports.

The event included glowing comment from Senate boss Marc Basnight, who called Dalton "a forward thinking leader."

Among the sponsors were Sen. Vernon Malone, Progress Energy CEO Bill Johnson, Red Hat CEO Matthew Szulik, BlueCross/BlueShield CEO Bob Greczyn, former Lt. Gov. Bob Jordan, UNC benefactor Walter Davis, former N&O publisher Frank Daniels Jr., former Glaxo CEOs Bob Ingram and Charlie Sanders, and former state Democratic chairs Tom Hendrickson and Betty McCain and Barbara Allen.

The other Democrats running for lieutenant governor are Durham lawyer Hampton Dellinger, Winston-Salem Councilman Dan Besse, and Canton Mayor Pat Smathers.