Hillary Clinton

Frenzy in Denver

lynnbonner — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:22:31 -0400

The Rev. Lenwood Long Sr., a first-time delegate, runs out of superlatives in describing his experience in Denver.

In telephone call today just as he was getting ready to catch the light rail train for downtown, he called former President Bill Clinton’s speech last night “great,” “fantastic” and “just magnificent.”

Long, the pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Rolesville, was a Hillary Clinton supporter before he switched during the South Carolina primary to Barack Obama.

But it was the Clintons who provided most of yesterday’s excitement.

The highlight was “the drama around the roll call vote,” Long said. Anticipation built for about 30 minutes before Hillary Clinton came in “with an entourage of cameras and Secret Service,” he said.

When she cast all New York delegate votes for Obama and called for his nomination by acclimation, “it was a frenzy,” Long said. “People were so excited.”

Looking forward to Obama’s speech, Long wants him to talk tonight about how he proposes to handle the challenges America faces — economic challenges in particular — and to establish an emotional connection with the audience.

“It’s more important for people not to connect to his intellect, but to his heart,” Long said.

Long is 63 and lives in Wake Forest. He was chief of staff to former U.S. Rep. Eva Clayton during her first term in Congress, and worked on all her campaigns.

N.C. trio to call state's vote

bkrueger — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:07:47 -0400

DENVER – When North Carolina's roll call vote at the Democratic National Convention is announced tonight, it will be delivered by three people – state Democratic Chairman Jerry Meek, Gov. Mike Easley and U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield.

That is, if it's announced at all.

There is talk that when the roll call gets to New York, Sen. Hillary Clinton will move that her one-time rival, Barack Obama, be nominated by acclamation. If that's the case, North Carolina will not get its moment in the sun, reports Rob Christensen.

Meek said it unusual, but not unprecedented, that three people would announce the vote. He plans a meeting this afternoon to decide what should be said.

His own personal preference, Meek quipped, is “the home of Duke basketball.” Meek, of course, is a Duke alum.

The actual voting by the delegation began this morning at a delegation breakfast. Because Obama won North Carolina, the outcome is not a mystery.

Women's Day

lynnbonner — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:29:59 -0400

Kay Hagan and Beverly Perdue didn’t make it out to Denver, but their campaigns were chatted up at a fundraiser for EMILY’s List, a group that supports Democratic women candidates.

R. Bruce Thompson II a delegate from Raleigh, paid so much to attend the Tuesday fundraiser that he didn’t want give the figure because his wife didn't know how much it cost him.

(Hint to Mrs. Thompson: It was at a 'sponsorship' level, and more than $50.)

Hagan, who is running for U.S. Senate, and Perdue, who is running for governor, is on the group’s list of “rising stars.”

“It’s kind of nice to be from North Carolina when they’re talking about all these North Carolinians,” said Thompson, who is attending his first convention as a delegate.

More after the jump.

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Erwin backs McCain

bkrueger — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:27:37 -0400

Charlotte businessman Mark Erwin, a friend and supporter of former President Bill Clinton and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, says he is supporting Republican Sen. John McCain in the presidential election.

Erwin, who backed Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary, said he did not think Sen. Barack Obama was sufficiently seasoned to be president, reports Rob Christensen.

“I'm supporting (McCain) because I think our country needs somebody who has the depth of experience, proven talent and lots of leadership training,” Erwin said.

“Sen. Obama doesn't have any of those things. I think Joe Biden had it right when he said, 'Some day he will be ready, but he's not ready now.'”

Erwin was a fundraiser and golfing partner of former President Bill Clinton. Clinton named him ambassador to three islands of the east coast of Africa.

Erwin said he met with McCain in Atlanta last week and agreed to back him.

Erwin said he believed this was the first time he had agreed to support a Republican presidential candidate, although he said he has supported Republicans such as U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick of Charlotte.

Denver delegate report

lynnbonner — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:07:35 -0400

R. Bruce Thompson II said he's behind presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama all the way.

But when candidate names go into nomination later this week, Thompson plans to vote for Sen. Hillary Clinton.

“It’s a tribute. It’s a symbolic vote. I was sent here on behalf of folks who voted for her in North Carolina. I feel an obligation to do that," said Thompson, a Raleigh lawyer and lobbyist.

Clinton is meeting with her delegates Wednesday, and Thompson says his plans could change depending on what she tells them.

He was an early Clinton supporter, putting him at odds with a lot of his friends who were then backing John Edwards.

Thompson helped Clinton raise money and was with the Clintons when they campaigned in North Carolina. Clinton’s campaign made a deep impression on his 8-year-old daughter Grace Battle, who got to meet the senator from New York.

Even with that history, Thompson says he’s ready to work for Obama.

Thompson said he invited Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter to talk to North Carolina delegates at breakfast this morning, and Halter “gave a rousing speech on how we need to unite behind Barack Obama.”

Thompson, 41, is attending his first convention as a delegate. The buzz is that Sen. Ted Kennedy, who recently was diagnosed with a brain tumor, may speak at the convention tonight.

Dems start convention

bniolet — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 08:40:07 -0400

With the Summer Olympics officially closed, the main-event spotlight now swings toward Denver, where Democrats have gathered to see Barack Obama accept his party's nomination.

The party hopes to emerge from this week's convention united after a long, hard-fought primary. And they hope to better introduce Obama to the American voters.

North Carolina will not play nearly as important a role as it did at the 2004 convention in Boston, when John Edwards, then a North Carolina senator, was nominated as the party's vice presidential running mate. Edwards is not expected at this year's convention.

Scheduled primetime speakers include Michelle Obama (tonight), Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (Tuesday), Bill Clinton and vice president pick Sen. Joe Biden (Wednesday) and Obama (Thursday). (N&O)

Be true to your (rival's) school

bkrueger — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:24:56 -0400

Wellesley or Wesleyan. Barack Obama apparently had trouble tonight keeping those two Northeastern schools straight in response to a question from a Wellesley student.

And while that might not hurt him when speaking in Raleigh, The Washington Post's Anne E. Kornblut notes on The Trail that it may not help him with the Hillary Clinton crowd.

Wellesley, in Massachusetts, is Clinton's alma mater. Wesleyan, in Connecticut, is not.

Obama makes it to Raleigh

bkrueger — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:50:35 -0400

Fay did not prevent Barack Obama from his event this evening in Raleigh.

Obama, who had trouble getting out of Florida earlier in the day because of the weather, has arrived at the N.C. State Fairgrounds for a "town hall" meeting, reports Lynn Bonner.

Several state and local politicos - from former House Speaker Dan Blue of Raleigh to state Rep. Pricey Harrison of Greensboro - were among those in the crowd.

Gov. Mike Easley, who initially endorsed Hillary Clinton in the presidential primary, was also seen working the room. Former Gov. Jim Hunt is there, as is state Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Meek.

Obama: We're in striking distance

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:56:31 -0400

The campaign of Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Wednesday it was making a major effort in North Carolina because of the alignment of the issues and because of an unprecedented get-out the vote effort.

"The people want out of this war and they want some changes in the econony," Democratic Gov. Mike Easley said during an Obama campaign teleconference. "It's going to be very difficult for the people of North Carolina to vote for the status quo rather than change, which is where we are right now."

The Obama campaign said they have so far opened 16 offices across the state, spent more than $2 million in TV ads, and registered thousands of new voters, Rob Christensen reports.

"We are in striking distance," said Patrick Gaspard, the Obama national political director said of North Carolina.

The Obama campaign seemed to be reaching out to blue collar workers, who tended to vote for Hillary Clinton in the May primary.

The Obama campaign said it would emphasize rising gas prices, manufacuring jobs lost through unfavorable trade deals and John McCain's opposition to the Farm Bill.

The Obama campaign said it planned to organize every precinct in the state. The campaign said it would focus on voter registration between now and the Oct. 10 deadline.

They noted that since January, Democrats had picked up 169,635 new voters, while Republicans had gained over 51,542.

Obama's blue-collar blueprint

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:17:26 -0400

Barack Obama is still courting those Hillary Clinton voters.

A campaign blueprint for North Carolina released today indicates that Obama is working to expand his base of supporters here to include many of the blue-collar white voters he didn't win in the primary.

On the issues, the presentation leans heavily on effects of the poor economy on the textile industry and farming, attacking John McCain over a farm bill and support for free trade.

Rising gas prices, the other major issue listed, are a more generic Obama issue that amplifies the economic attack.

Free trade has been a major theme for Democratic challenger Larry Kissell, although it hasn't gotten traction in other parts of the state in large part because of the largely Republican makeup of other textile-heavy districts.