Clinton names N.C. steering committee

Hillary Clinton's campaign released the names of its North Carolina steering committee, ranging from poet Maya Angelou to Hugh Shelton, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The list was announced at a teleconference held by Tom Hendrickson, a former state Democratic chariman; former Ambassador Jeanette Hyde, and the Rev. Brenda Stevenson of Charlotte.

"I know Hillary has the diplomatic skills," said Hyde, who was appointed ambassador to Barbados by President Clinton. "She has the knowledge. She has traveled around the world. I beleive she can help mend some of the problems we have in the world."

The endorsements include many people long associated with the moderate, pro-business wing of the state Democratic Party and with Govs. Jim Hunt and Terry Sanford.

Clarification: Hunt is not on the steering committee, but some of his associates are. 

More names after the jump.

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Those include Winston-Salem oil distributor Bert Bennett, Charlotte business leader Cammie Harris, former Lt. Gov. Bob Jordan of Mt. Gilead, Jane Smith, former secretary of Administration; former state Sen. Tom Taft of Greenville, former state Democratic chair Barbara Allen, and former state party chairman Betty McCain of Wilson County, and Tom Lambeth, the chairman of the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center.

Other endorsements include former U.S. Sen. Robert Morgan, Charles Sanders, former Glaxo chairman and a former U.S Senate candidate, Spring Industries president Crandall Bowles, former Ambassador Mark Erwin of Charlotte and Hugh McColl, the retired chairman of the Bank of America.

Among the Triangle people backing Clinton are Wake County commissioners Lindy Brown and Betty Lou Ward; Dana Cope, president of the State Employees Association of North Carolina; former attorney General Rufus Edmisten; business leader Roddy Jones; Jan Allen, founder of N.C. Lillian's List; and community organizer Mandy Carter of Durham.