Jay-Z to tour for Obama

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:44:27 -0400

Jay-Z is coming to North Carolina to get out the vote.

The hip hop star will make two stops Saturday at the Phillip O. Berry Academy in Charlotte and N.C. A&T University in Greensboro on behalf of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Obama's body man, Reggie Love

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 26 May 2008 22:54:29 -0400

Barack Obama's right-hand man is a former Blue Devil.

Dome first noted former Duke University football and basketball player Reggie Love's gig as a "body man" to the Democratic presidential candidate in June of last year when the two came to Chapel Hill for a fundraiser.

A New York Times profile has added some new details about the 26-year-old's job as Obama's "body man."

When Mr. Obama dropped food on his tie while eating in the car between stops, Mr. Love was ready with a Tide pen. He always carries one, along with ballpoint pens, and has turned himself into a walking dispensary of Sharpies, stationery, protein bars, throat lozenges, water, tea, Advil, Tylenol, Purell and emergency Nicorette, not to mention his ever-present iPhone, BlackBerry and Canon Rebel XT digital camera.

The two often play basketball together — especially during Obama's ritualistic game on the day of each state primary — and share music.

The piece notes that Love introduced Obama to Jay-Z, leading to the famous moment in a Raleigh speech where the candidate mimed brushing "dirt off his shoulder."

It also notes that Obama led a chant of "Reggie, Reggie, Reggie!" at a rally in Love's hometown of Charlotte.