Thousands of North Carolinians turned out for early voting.
Statewide totals were not available, but voters arrived three hours early in Durham and cast more than 6,250 ballots by the end of the day. More than 6,000 voted in Wake County.
In Mecklenburg County, the elections director expects about 150,000 out of 400,000 ballots to be cast early.
The presidential campaigns are paying unusual attention to North Carolina this year, with polls showing esentially a tie between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama. No Democratic presidential candidate has won North Carolina since 1976.
The atmosphere was electric as voters crowded polling places around the state. Both parties have emphasized early voting this year, but Obama supporters were particularly energized. (N&O)
More than 1,500 voters came out in Guilford County, nearly double the 2004 total. Some waited one or two hours to vote. (GN-R)
