Rock star Bono met with Dot Helms, the widow of former Sen. Jesse Helms, before Saturday night's U2 concert in Raleigh, to express his appreciation for the late senator's work to combat AIDS in Africa.

The two men had formed an unlikely alliance and friendship during Helms' final years in the Senate, and Bono asked for a chance to meet with Dot Helms during his Raleigh concert, Rob Christensen reports.

At a back stage meeting, Bono greeted Dot Helms warmly and said it was because of "Jesse" that more than 3 million children are alive and on anti-retroviral drugs today in Africa, according to Jimmy Broughton, Helms' former chief of staff, who accompanied Dot Helms.

Dot Helms did not stay for the concert, but she was accompanied by several of her grandchildren who did.

Dot Helms was deeply touched and delighted to see Bono, according to Broughton, and said she hoped other senators were helping him with his efforts for global AIDS relief.

So U2's shout-out to John Edwards has Dome thinking about the perfect song from the band's extensive catalogue for our former senator.

Edwards has used U2's "Beautiful Day" on the campaign trail. That doesn't quite work anymore.

We've spent way more time on this than we should, so we'll leave it to you, Dome reader, to pick which U2 song suits now best suits Edwards. We've nominated a few.

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At the U2 concert this weekend the crowd would have gone wild for just about everything Bono said or sang.

Which made it all the more awkward when Bono got to his inevitable sermonizing, said several of those who caught the show. He was talking about his "One" project, which works against poverty and disease, particularly in Africa. Bono praised North Carolina for having two prominent politicians who have worked hard for that cause. On the right, he said, was the late Sen. Jesse Helms. (Bono of course had developed an understanding with Helms).

And on the left, was John Edwards.

That's when it got uncomfortable.

"I've never experienced an awkward silence at a rock concert before," writes Joe Gregorio on his blog, echoing what Dome has heard from others.

While some campaign staffers were already calling the election for Beverly Perdue, Zach Ambrose came on the microphone to announce the Associated Press call for Perdue's victory.

In anticipation of Perdue's victory speech, the music was turned to "Celebrate" and then "Beautiful Day" by U2. Cheering, dancing and cocktails followed.

Cindy Estill, of Raleigh, said the win was "fabulous."

"I love that she's a woman, a strong woman and says what she thinks," she said. "She says a lot about where we need to go."

Brenda Tipton, of Pine Top, said she is excited about Perdue's victory.

"I think she's a go-getter," she said.

Gail Perry, of Raleigh, said she thinks Republican contender Pat McCrory has little chance of defeating Perdue in November.

"She's developed a strong political network across the state," said Perry, a member of the board of Lillian's List. "Her support is broad. It's deep. And she's got Andy Griffith."

Bono, frontman of the rock band U2, talks about his experience lobbying former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina to help pay for prescription drugs for African AIDS victims, in the documentary "Senator No," by filmmaker John Wilson.

The documentary airs on UNC-TV tonight at 9 p.m. The video can also be seen here.

John Edwards' New Hampshire celebration has the feel of a college kegger.

Dome correspondent Barb Barrett reports that the large textile mill in downtown Manchester has an open bar, loud music and a dimly lit vibe.

The youngish crowd is cramped around the bar, with people holding their Sam Adams above their heads to avoid spilling as they thread their way back to the music.

As with earlier events, U2 is in heavy rotation, joined by "What I LIke About You" by the Romantics, among other power pop hits. A young guy pogoed briefly, possibly inspiring a young woman in a pink knit cap to start dancing as well.

Snatches of conversation overheard add to the feel: What's your major? a guy asks. Several other guys talk about a card game.

Slightly out of place: A guy is going on about lobbyists. 

Come to think of it, there were guys like that in college too. 

John Edwards is addressing supporters at his Iowa headquarters.

After the couple took the stage to U2's "In the Name of Love," Elizabeth spoke first.

"Despite the fact that he was outspent six to one, that message got through," she said.

Now John:

"The one thing that's clear from the results tonight is that the status quo lost, and change won. And now we move on. We move on from Iowa to New Hampshire and the other states to determine who's best suited to bring about change."

He said that Iowa caucuses have shown that "two candidates" who thought money would win lost. Presumably, he meant Romney and Clinton.

A former consultant to U.S. Sen. John McCain is working for Bill Graham.

According to the Hotline blog of the National Journal, the Arizona senator's former chief creative consultant, Fred Davis, is working on Graham's bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.

In addition, he is working on U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole's re-election bid, as well as Senate races in Tennessee and Oklahoma in 2008. He worked for the Bush campaign in 2004.

Davis' Hollywood-based media firm, Strategic Perception, made television ads for Graham's N.C. Conservatives United advocacy group last year in its campaign to cap the gas tax.

His firm has also signed up to help with U2 frontman Bono's anti-poverty ONE campaign.