Surrogate Smackdown: North Carolina

Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have sent surrogates to North Carolina.

It makes sense. The candidates can only come in person so often, so they send their supporters and colleagues to make the case for them.

In the best-case scenario, the surrogate is popular in his or her own right and draws a big crowd for a made-for-TV rally. At other times, it can as compelling as the opening of a new shopping center.

Here's a scoresheet of a few of the surrogates sent so far:

THE FIRST SPOUSES: Obama sent his wife, Michelle, to a few big cities; Clinton's husband, Bill, is camping out in small towns. Michelle drew 5,700 in Raleigh, almost three times as many as her husband, but Bill is a superstar in Bubbaland. Advantage: Clinton.

FORMER SITCOM STARS: Obama sent Tatyana Ali; Clinton countered with Erika Alexander. Ali is best known as Ashley on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," while Alexander was Pam on "The Cosby Show." Ali had a bigger role, but Alexander was on a better show. No advantage.

NEW JERSEY MAYORS: Obama dispatched Newark Mayor Cory Booker; Clinton is counting on Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer. Booker has a higher profile among New Yorker readers, while Palmer is president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. But this ain't the Garden State. Disadvantage: Both.

HIGH-PROFILE POLS: Obama has brought in Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle; while Clinton's been touted by U.S. Reps. Corrine Brown and Edolphus Towns and former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe. Advantage: Obama.

It's harder to directly compare some of the other surrogates. Chelsea Clinton was a big draw at local colleges, while the Wayans brothers canceled a trip. Clinton also had some prominent women do a tour, while Obama brought in a Virginia Congressman.