Staff report
Less than a week before next Tuesday’s election, Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama will return to North Carolina Wednesday.
Obama’s wife, Michelle, also returns to North Carolina on Wednesday and will be in Fayetteville and Rocky Mount.
Michelle Obama will emphasize the importance of voting early in this year’s historic election and highlight the unique opportunity voters have to cast their ballots for the change Obama’s campaign says North Carolina needs to create new jobs, strengthen the economy and provide access to affordable health care.
Since early voting began Oct. 16, more than 1 million North Carolinians have cast their ballots.
Earlier in the day in Fayetteville, Obama will address the N.C. Baptist Convention, where she will speak to the group of religious and community leaders about the faith and values that have driven Sen. Obama as a father, husband and public servant.
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The Rowan County Senior Democrats will meet at 11:30 a.m. today at the Tower of Power United Holy Church at 601 E. Cemetery St. The public is invited.
nnnThe Pat McCrory for Governor Campaign has filed a complaint with the State Board of Elections against a group apparently tied to the union representing state employees for issuing a negative mailer that McCrory’s campaign says violates state election law and makes a false statement about McCrory.
“Negative Bev and her union buddies continue to spread lies about Pat McCrory and are apparently willing to break the law if that’s what it takes to win this election,” said McCrory spokeswoman Amy Auth. “We urge the State Board of Elections to enforce their disclosure requirements and take swift action against this false advertising.”
nnnAccording to the pumpkins, the McCain/Palin presidential ticket will land the White House.
That prediction was determined during the Great Heads of Statesville Exit Poll in Statesville Friday. Pie pumpkins, weighing 3 pounds each, were catapulted from a trebuchet. Official pumpkin-chunking rules were used to determine the scores.
Distances were added together for the presidential contests. Sen. John McCain’s pumpkin spun to the right and bounced 81 yards from the catapult, while Gov. Sarah Palin’s red lipstick-clad pumpkin initially veered to the left, but pulled back to the right before landing 85 yards.
On the Democratic side, both pumpkins stayed true to the left. The Sen. Barack Obama pumpkin flew 79 yards, while Sen. Joe Biden’s gourd sailed 83 yards.
The total distance was 166 yards for the Republican ticket and 162 for the Democrats.
In the bid for North Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat, the pumpkin for Democrat Kay Hagan aimed for the left while it soundly defeated incumbent Republican Elizabeth Dole 85 yards to 79 yards.
The pumpkins reinforced the widespread opinion that the gubernatorial race between Democratic Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and Republican Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory is a toss-up. Both pumpkins were hurled 86 yards, meaning a run-off is needed. Like the senatorial race, the gubernatorial pumpkins stayed true to their respective party lines.
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Democrat Kay Hagan is 10-for-10 in editorial endorsements from N.C. newspapers.
Editorial boards of 10 newspapers have given Hagan, a state senator from Greensboro, the nod over Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Libertarian Christopher Cole in the 2008 U.S. Senate race.
Salisbury native Dole is the incumbent.
The newspapers endorsing Hagan include the Charlotte Observer, Raleigh News & Observer, Greensboro News-Record, Asheville Citizen-Times, Winston-Salem Journal, Wilmington Star-News, Durham Herald-Sun, Greenville Daily Reflector, High Point Enterprise and Wilson Times.
The Salisbury Post does not endorse candidates.