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Obama's North Carolina opportunity Obama's North Carolina opportunity
(about 8 hours later)
By Katty Kay BBC News, North CarolinaBy Katty Kay BBC News, North Carolina
Mr Obama has been campaigning hard in North CarolinaJimmy Barnes' favourite colour - like the Republican Party he supports - is red.Mr Obama has been campaigning hard in North CarolinaJimmy Barnes' favourite colour - like the Republican Party he supports - is red.
His 1963 Cadillac is blazing crimson.His 1963 Cadillac is blazing crimson.
His neatly tucked-in polo shirt is fiery red - even the bandana round his straw hat gleams the colour of a poppy.His neatly tucked-in polo shirt is fiery red - even the bandana round his straw hat gleams the colour of a poppy.
And Mr Barnes' politics are as far from Democratic blue as they could be.And Mr Barnes' politics are as far from Democratic blue as they could be.
"North Carolina is Republican because people here have conservative values," says Jim."North Carolina is Republican because people here have conservative values," says Jim.
"If you like a bohemian lifestyle, that doesn't go down too well here.""If you like a bohemian lifestyle, that doesn't go down too well here."
Making a pitchMaking a pitch
As he drove us through the all-white, wealthy suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina, Jimmy Barnes, a one time local official, was confident about his party's chances this year.As he drove us through the all-white, wealthy suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina, Jimmy Barnes, a one time local official, was confident about his party's chances this year.
And he has reason to be. The Democrats have not won North Carolina for the presidency since Jimmy Carter took the state in 1976 - and Mr Carter hailed from nearby Georgia so he had a big advantage. John McCain is nowhere to be seen in the state And he has reason to be. The Democrats have not won North Carolina for the presidency since Jimmy Carter took the state in 1976 - and Mr Carter hailed from nearby Georgia so he had a big advantage.
But this year, for the first time in decades, the Democratic candidate - Barack Obama - is making a real pitch for this southern state.But this year, for the first time in decades, the Democratic candidate - Barack Obama - is making a real pitch for this southern state.
Is it audacious hope or solid realism?Is it audacious hope or solid realism?
Since the 1960s, Democrats have largely abandoned the South, preferring to concentrate restricted campaign funds on swing states further north.Since the 1960s, Democrats have largely abandoned the South, preferring to concentrate restricted campaign funds on swing states further north.
John McCain is nowhere to be seen in the state
But what happens when the party nominates a candidate who has so much money he can afford to campaign in every state he chooses and who particularly appeals to one very important southern voting block - African Americans?But what happens when the party nominates a candidate who has so much money he can afford to campaign in every state he chooses and who particularly appeals to one very important southern voting block - African Americans?
How the race issue affects voting in one US state
Black voters make up almost a quarter of the population of North Carolina and they vote 90% Democratic.Black voters make up almost a quarter of the population of North Carolina and they vote 90% Democratic.
If Mr Obama is going to take this state in November he needs to get them to the polls in large numbers - which is tricky when many are not even registered.If Mr Obama is going to take this state in November he needs to get them to the polls in large numbers - which is tricky when many are not even registered.
So Mr Obama's ground war is underway in places like the Charlotte Church of National Unity Prayer.So Mr Obama's ground war is underway in places like the Charlotte Church of National Unity Prayer.
There, Valerie Woodward works the cafeteria urging ageing black voters to get registered, get to the polls and get "a brother into the White House".There, Valerie Woodward works the cafeteria urging ageing black voters to get registered, get to the polls and get "a brother into the White House".
It is time-consuming, unglamorous work.It is time-consuming, unglamorous work.
But Valerie says there are unregistered black voters in every "nook and cranny" and she is optimistic the campaign can reach them.But Valerie says there are unregistered black voters in every "nook and cranny" and she is optimistic the campaign can reach them.
She has reason to be.She has reason to be.
Long shotLong shot
Since January, 130,000 Democrats have registered to vote - that is a landslide compared to the 13,000 Republicans who have registered in the same period.Since January, 130,000 Democrats have registered to vote - that is a landslide compared to the 13,000 Republicans who have registered in the same period.
Mr Obama is already running ads in this state - and has signed up 15,000 volunteers to man phone banks and rally supporters.Mr Obama is already running ads in this state - and has signed up 15,000 volunteers to man phone banks and rally supporters.
In a Republican stronghold, this is an impressive display of financial muscle and political confidence.In a Republican stronghold, this is an impressive display of financial muscle and political confidence.
And curiously, the Republican candidate John McCain is nowhere to be seen in the state.And curiously, the Republican candidate John McCain is nowhere to be seen in the state.
He does not have adverts up on the airwaves, and in Charlotte he does not even have a campaign operation.He does not have adverts up on the airwaves, and in Charlotte he does not even have a campaign operation.
The Republican is spending his far scarcer resources elsewhere, confident the South will stay in his column.The Republican is spending his far scarcer resources elsewhere, confident the South will stay in his column.
But Mr McCain and the war-ridden Republican party is far less popular than Mr Bush was in 2000 and 2004 and he may have to step up his game and his spending here to keep the state.But Mr McCain and the war-ridden Republican party is far less popular than Mr Bush was in 2000 and 2004 and he may have to step up his game and his spending here to keep the state.
From increasingly liberal Charlotte, we drove up into the stunning Appalachian mountains in the west of the state.From increasingly liberal Charlotte, we drove up into the stunning Appalachian mountains in the west of the state.
There we met Bruce Snelson - a cattle farmer.There we met Bruce Snelson - a cattle farmer.
The Snelsons have been farming this land in the hills for more than 200 years and Bruce is as loyal to his party as he is to these family fields.The Snelsons have been farming this land in the hills for more than 200 years and Bruce is as loyal to his party as he is to these family fields.
He has voted Democratic all his life.He has voted Democratic all his life.
But this year he has a quandary - he doesn't want another Republican in office, but he doesn't much like Barack Obama.But this year he has a quandary - he doesn't want another Republican in office, but he doesn't much like Barack Obama.
Question of allegianceQuestion of allegiance
The rumours about Senator Obama's faith and lack of patriotism have hit a chord with this conservative Democrat.The rumours about Senator Obama's faith and lack of patriotism have hit a chord with this conservative Democrat.
"I don't know his stand on the pledge of allegiance, but I have seen the picture where... it appeared that he was refusing to pledge allegiance to the flag, hold his hand over the heart or pledge allegiance, where Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson was," he said."I don't know his stand on the pledge of allegiance, but I have seen the picture where... it appeared that he was refusing to pledge allegiance to the flag, hold his hand over the heart or pledge allegiance, where Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson was," he said.
"So I don't think it's right that we have a commander-in-chief and leader of the country that refuses to pledge allegiance to our flag and our country.""So I don't think it's right that we have a commander-in-chief and leader of the country that refuses to pledge allegiance to our flag and our country."
Bruce Snelson is a good test for Mr Obama.Bruce Snelson is a good test for Mr Obama.
If he wants to win in the South, he needs to persuade men like this that they can trust and feel comfortable with him.If he wants to win in the South, he needs to persuade men like this that they can trust and feel comfortable with him.
From the western mountains to its eastern shoreline, North Carolina is still a long shot for the Democrats.From the western mountains to its eastern shoreline, North Carolina is still a long shot for the Democrats.
But if Barack Obama does win here, the chances are he will take the country as well.But if Barack Obama does win here, the chances are he will take the country as well.