More than 45K voters in NC "switched party registration this year." Of them, 42% switched to the Dem Party, and 42% switched to unaffiliated. Just 15% became GOPers. "The biggest jump this year" was from GOP to unaffiliated. "The second biggest jump" was from GOP to Dem. "Still, the numbers are pretty small overall, representing less than 1% of the number of registered voters at the time" ("Under the Dome," Raleigh News & Observer, 5/2).

Lucky For Easley, He's Not On The Ballot Next Tuesday

Only 1/4 of callers to NC Gov. Mike Easley's (D) office "agreed with his endorsement of Hillary Clinton." "In the 48 hours since Easley's endorsement became public," Easley's office "received" 482 calls about the issue. Of those, 112 callers "agreed with the endorsement," and 360 were against it. either because they are for Barack Obama or because they did not think Easley should endorse before the primary" ("Under the Dome," Raleigh News & Observer, 5/2).

Energy Surge

Whoever wins the WH'08 race "almost certainly will have a big role in crafting new laws to combat climate change, and in promoting changes in the nation's fuel supply to reduce dependence on overseas oil" -- issues in which NC "has a big stake." NC "has a long, relatively flat coastline that makes it among the nation's most vulnerable to rising seas predicted as part of climate change. Meanwhile, the vast numbers of swine and poultry in the state and the massive quantities of waste they produce present an opportunity: They could someday be the feedstock for fuels generated from biomass." The WH'08ers "goals are ambitious. But the costs of limiting carbon remains the obstacle" (Rawlins, Raleigh News & Observer, 5/2).

Today In White, Working-Class Voter Land

Newark Star-Ledger's Orr writes about grassroots activity in Apex, NC, "a rapidly growing municipality" of 34K about 25 miles south of Raleigh, which is "the kind of smaller battleground community that could hold sway" 5/6 (5/2). Meanwhile, Christian Science Monitor's Marks writes, white working-class voters "represent a pivotal Southern constituency" for Dems. And as NC Dems "prepare for" the primary, "both candidates are aggressively courting them. As they do, the divisive facets of race and class are playing an increasing and evolving role in deciding the drawn-out" Dem campaign. "To pull off a meaningful victory," Obama "must woo back at least some of his lost white support and ease any unspoken anxieties of people" (5/2).

Dinner's Ready!

Clinton and Obama "couldn't agree on a debate" in NC. But they did agree to speak to NC Dems this p.m. in West Raleigh at the annual J-J Dinner. About 500 people have paid $125 for dinner and $25 for seating in the bleachers (Ogburn, Raleigh News & Observer, 5/2).

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