The News and Observer's political columnist will be at the Barnes and Noble in Winston-Salem tonight at 7 p.m. discussing his new book, "The Paradox of Tar Heel Politics."

He will also be at the Barnes and Noble in Fayetteville on Saturday at 3 p.m

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama denounces remarks by his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, in Winston-Salem today.

Barack Obama has denounced his former pastor.

In comments to reporters at Winston-Salem, the Democratic presidential candidate said that he was outraged by comments of his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Obama said that Wright's comments did not accurately portray the black church, and he was angered by suggestions that the U.S. government was behind the AIDS epidemic.

"I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened by the spectacle that we saw yesterday," he said.

He also said that Wright's comments were fueling the divisiveness that he hoped to move beyond with his campaign.

At a meeting of the National Press Club Monday, Wright said that criticism of his sermons was an attack on the black church, accused the United States of terrorism and praised Louis Farrakhan.

Obama said he gave Wright the benefit of the doubt after previous controversial remarks surfaced, but he would not defend his recent remarks.

"All it was was a bunch of rants," he said. 

Hillary Clinton hosts a 'conversation' with and Dr. Maya Angelou at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem. (Staff video by Travis Long)

Hillary Clinton and Maya Angelou will have a conversation Friday.

The Democratic presidential candidate and the poet will hold an event in Wait Chapel at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem.

Doors open at 4 p.m. and the event begins at 6 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. 

Four women leaders will tour North Carolina on behalf of Hillary Clinton today.

Rev. Marcia Dyson, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania; Irene Natividad, president of the Global Summit for Women; Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women; and Betsy Ebeling, a longtime friend of Clinton's, will meet with women at campaign field offices in Charlotte, Winston-Salem and Greensboro.

Invitations have gone out to women who submitted questions through Clinton's N.C. Ask Me Web site.

The group will also hold a "Hillary Hour" at 518 West Italian restaurant in Raleigh at 5 p.m.

Michelle Obama will visit Raleigh and Winston-Salem on Tuesday.

The first event will be held at 2:30 p.m. at Winston-Salem State University. The second will be at 7:30 p.m. at Reynolds Coliseum at N.C. State in Raleigh.

Doors open at both events an hour before the start time.

Free tickets are available at nc.barackobama.com.

Michelle Obama will visit North Carolina Tuesday.

The Obama campaign said she will discuss his "commitment to change, reach out to undecided voters, and organize support."

She is slated to talk about the economy during the visit, holding events in Winston-Salem and Raleigh.

Further details were not immediately available.

Hillary Clinton has confirmed her stops in North Carolina.

The Democratic presidential candidate will deliver a speech on her proposed economic policy at Wake Tech community college south of Raleigh at 10:30 a.m.

At 1:30 p.m., she will hold a "Solutions for America" event at the gym at Terry Sanford High School in Fayetteville.

And at 5:30 p.m., she will hold a second rally at Forsyth Technical Community College's gym in Winston-Salem.

None of the events require tickets, and all are free and open to the public. Doors open an hour and a half before the scheduled time.

Hillary Clinton may be coming to Wake Tech on Thursday.

The Clinton campaign called the community college south of Raleigh today about hosting a large public event during her swing through North Carolina.

"We have been talking with them," said Wake Tech spokeswoman Laurie Clowers. "We may know something later today, but right now it's not confirmed."

The city managers of Fayetteville and Winston-Salem have confirmed that Clinton will be stopping in those two cities, and she is rumored to be making stops in three major media markets.

Wake Tech has hosted governors and Congressional representatives before, but Clinton would be the highest-profile political figure to stop at the 40-year-old campus.