Barack Obama surprised more than 700 N.C. Democrats on Saturday night with an unscheduled appearance at the party's annual Vance-Aycock dinner.

"I hope you don't mind me crashing the party," the Democratic presidential candidate told an enthusiastic crowd in a ballroom at the Grove Park Inn. He was greeted with a prolonged ovation and shouts of "Yes, we can!" Some people stood on chairs for a better view.

Obama arrived in Asheville for a rally this afternoon and two days of quiet preparation for Tuesday's debate against Republican John McCain, Jim Morrill reports. It's Obama's third visit to the state in two weeks.

He alluded to his success in the state's May primary, when he soundly defeated Hillary Clinton.

"People said, 'What's he doing spending so much time in North Carolina?'" Obama said. "It turns out, the people of North Carolina decided they were going to lift up the Obama campaign. ... Maybe we should just keep on coming to North Carolina."

In remarks that lasted about 10 minutes, he gave a truncated version of the stump speech he delivered recently in Charlotte and Greensboro. He criticized the "failed policies" of the Bush administration, including a foreign policy he described as "talking tough but acting dumb."

* N.C. Association of Educators president and superintendent candidate Eddie Davis suggests adding Sen. Jeanne Lucas' name to the Vance-Aycock Dinner. (AC-T)

* State Treasurer Richard Moore, already a frequent guest on CNBC, is among those for the "Power Lunch" show's tour of Charlotte. (Char-O)

* Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr cross paths while touting their gubernatorial campaigns in Burke County. (Morganton News-Herald)

* U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry defends Blackwater security contractors during Congressional hearings, noting that no visiting lawmakers have been hurt. (Char-O)

Guest commentaries usually have a point.

Often, a writer is seeking to add some perspective on a newsworthy issue. But, as a rule of thumb, they also make clear what that point is.

The Asheville Citizen-Times has published an op-ed by U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield. It has a point, Dome thinks, but it doesn't come right out and say it. Take a look:

As a child growing up in Wilson, N.C., the few African-Americans who were registered to vote were aligned with the Democratic Party.

Setting aside the dangling participle in that sentence, we can surmise that this commentary is in response to the now-canceled protest of the Vance-Aycock Dinner by a Republican group.

The Carolina Stompers points out that Gov. Aycock was a racist. On the eve of the dinner, one of the state's two black members — who lives 300 miles away — pens an op-ed about the long history of Democrats and civil rights for the Asheville paper.

We think we get it, but then again, Butterfield never says exactly.

A Democratic fundraiser may run against U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

According to an article in the Carrboro Citizen, Jim Neal is expected to announce a run for Senate at the Vance-Aycock Dinner this weekend in Asheville.

A native of Greensboro, Neal now lives in Chapel Hill. He is a former investment banker and now works as a financial advisor.

Neal raised money for the Kerry-Edwards campaign in 2004.

State Sen. Kay Hagan and state Rep. Grier Martin are also considering running for the Democratic senatorial nomination.

Previously: Kirk Ross drops a hint another candidate may run.

The State Board of Elections is investigating Carolina Stompers.

Investigators are looking into whether the newly created group, which scored good publicity for its would-be protest of the Democrats' annual Vance Aycock Dinner, should be registered as a political committee.

Under state law, a group must register as a political committee if its primary purpose is to raise money or support "clearly identified" candidates or those of a particular party.

A Sept. 26 letter from state Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Meek notes that the group's Web site specificially says, "We raise money for all Republican candidates," and solicits contributions.

"We encourage the State Board to look into this matter and fully investigate what appear to be flagrant and possibly intentional violations of State law," Meek wrote.

Chad Nesbitt, the founder of Carolina Stompers, said that it is a for-profit company that promotes conservative ideas and Republican candidates, but does not make political donations.

"At no time does any money come from our hands to the hands of a candidate," he said.

He argued the group should not be considered a political committee.

"If that's the case then every talk jock out here would be a political committee," he said.

Hat Tip: Capital Letters

If Democrats rename Vance Aycock, who would they name it for?

State Treasurer Richard Moore, who is running for the Democratic nomination for governor, suggested renaming the party's annual dinner after former Charlotte mayor Harvey Gantt, former speaker pro tem Marie Colton of Asheville or the late N.C. Speaker Liston Ramsey.

But in a post on This Old State, Charlotte Observer editor Jack Betts argues that Ramsey is a bad choice because of his "ironclad control" of the House in the 1980s.

They ran a rigid pork-barrel system that so disturbed both Democrats and Republicans that a coalition threw him out of office in 1989 and installed Democrat Josephus Mavretic in his place.

Betts says other options, including the late U.S. Sen. Sam Ervin, have their own problems. He suggests naming it for the late state Sens. Herbert Hyde or Jim Richardson.

Um, how about just calling it the Grove Park Inn Dinner?

* The Carolina Stompers have canceled their planned protest of the Vance Aycock Dinner, saying that Richard Moore's letter is enough for them. (AC-T)

* John Edwards laid off his chief media consultant, Marius Penczner, a month ago, but didn't tell anyone until now. Media consulting will now be done in house. (The Fix)

* Rep. Thomas Wright may have overbilled the state Department of Health and Human Services for travel; a legislative ethics committee's hearings are on hold. (WS-N)

* U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx is co-sponsor of a bill that would permanently ban taxes on Internet access; others hope just to extend a moratorium. (Watauga Democrat)