All of a sudden, North Carolina matters.

[Bravo Zulu]

It hasn't for decades in presidential elections.

Then Democrat Barack Obama made an aggressive play for this traditionally GOP state and polls showed the race tightening. That forced Republican John McCain to defend his turf or risk ceding the Southern state -- and its 15 electoral votes -- to Democrats for the first time in 32 years.

"They clearly see the threat," Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said after Mr. McCain's campaign intensified its efforts here. "They can profess that they're not concerned. But their spending and their actions belie" that.

A Time/CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released Wednesday showed the race virtually tied at 48 percent for Mr. McCain, 47 percent for Mr. Obama.

Even Democratic loyalists acknowledge that it is difficult to imagine North Carolina voting for Mr. Obama, who would be the country's first black president.

"I would be stunned," said Tim Rohde, 51, a Democrat from Raleigh. "But it would be amazing."

State Board of Elections records show that Democratic registrations have risen 7 percent since the start of 2008, while Republican registrations grew about 1 percent. There are now about 40 percent more Democrats than Republicans in North Carolina, although members of both state parties tend to be more conservative than their national counterparts. Registrations among blacks, a pivotal part of the Democratic base, are up almost 10 percent while white registrations are up 4 percent.

The number of registrations for voters who don't claim a political party jumped 11 percent this year.

Election battle unusual in North Carolina
Sunday, September 21, 2008
By Liz Sidoti and Mike Baker, The Associated Press
RALEIGH, N.C. -- All of a sudden, North Carolina matters.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08265/913510-470.stm

[WatchWhatISay]

1. The McCain campaign is falling apart

It's amazing that it took so many incidents for voters to finally "get it", but I think they finally are now understanding how incompetent and untrustworthy those two are.

[curious one]

2. We should never take things for granted. Of course NC is in play. Gobama.