When looking at the various regions of North Carolina and assessing which areas of the state are least/most likely to vote overwhelmingly for Obama, it can be more than likely to fall this way:

1) Triangle/RDU - the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill region is Obama's most loyal base area, especially considering how "liberal" this section of the state tends to be with all of the universities, colleges, and medical-oriented companies that comprise most of the 'Research Triangle Park'.  So...Obama win big time here.

2) Triad - the Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point region also offers it's own large, collegiate pocket of liberal voters, but not as many as the Triangle.  For every Obama vote here, McCain is able to match with one of his own.  McCain's vote in this area comes from the agricultural/manufacturing voter who is more culturally conservative.  So...Obama probably will win (barely), but it wouldn't be a shocker to see McCain win either - 50/50.

and lastly, one major KEY to an Obama victory...

3) The Queen City - Charlotte, the state's largest city, is also the nation's 2nd largest banking center behind New York.  Lots of colleges and universities here as well, but none with the international recognition like Duke, UNC, or NC State up in the Triangle.  Where the Raleigh-Durham area has an overwhelming "medical" tilt, Charlotte has an overwhelming "banking" tilt.  Charlotte, and the entire Mecklenburg County area tends to be the conservative counterpart to the Triangle's liberal sibling.  BUT, BUT, BUT, here is the reason why Mecklenburg County's vote will probably seal a win or a loss for Obama in the state: (after the jump)

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Dear Mr. Obama,

Sir. You may be aware that your opponent, in this race, is a member of a party known for ground campaigns that turn out a surprising number of General election voters to the polls. With campaign statistics flying, I agree with you regarding your assertion that now is not the time to rest upon our laurels.

Now, hear my plea: the opposition turns out those voters precisely because they energize their base. Mr. Obama, a trip to our fair city of Atlanta, would accomplish such an action for your campaign and your electoral chances.

I have been a supporter of you since the moments before your win in Iowa, having supported Bill Richardson in the primary. I am now a resident of the fine state of Georgia, and would like to offer that the Senate race is tightening here precisely , sir, because you have long coat-tails. Those coat-tails would lengthen should you arrive, and appear onstage with the Democrat that will guarantee your party a filibuster-proof Majority in the Senate.

It is my assertion that should you choose to rally your base, the juxtaposition of your speeches and presence in the home city of Martin Luther King , Jr. - would send an unmistakeable message to everyone that we have evolved as a country. Dr. King's message resonates deeply with me, as a white american voter, and I would be honored greatly if you should choose to visit our fair city.

Such a visit would accomplish a strategic win that would force your opponent to shore up his ever weakening base of support. I would also remind you, sir, that you were leading in the polls here in our state, 4 months ago, 44 percent to 42 percent, and you are currently leading early voting by 6 percentage points.

Please visit Atlanta.

Thank you.

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A lot of us remember vividly how Brokaw has done his best to humiliate Democratic candidates in the past few years.  He will probably do the same against Obama.

Tom Brokaw never was a great reporter or anchorman.  Capable?  Yes, but not great.  He doesn't hold a candle to Walter Cronkite or David Brinkley (at his best), and he's piss poor compared to Jim Lehrer and Robert MacNeil.  John Chancellor, for most of his career, was head and shoulders above Brokaw at his crappy best.

Brokaw - has no one ever noticed? - has a bad speech impediment.  He mumbles, doesn't even pronounce his words clearly, and has always sounded like a heavy drinker, almost slurring his words.

Brokaw is no brainiac.  What's much worse - he is a shill for the CEO class that runs GE and NBC.  He's an obsequious semi-moron.

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"There was one man who was presidential tonight, that man was John McCain."

Let's see ... McCain never looked at Obama during the debate.

Not looking at your opponent is "presidential?"

This very much was the "don't talk to your enemies - don't look them in the eye" foreign policy expert practicing his "presidential" craft for a nationwide audience.

McCain campaign continues:

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bumped from the diaries -- jonathan

Students can choose to vote in their school state or their home state.

The numbers are big enough to matter.  A lot.
For example, more than 62,000 students from Ohio are attending school in other states.  Iowa has 50,000 students from out-of-state

www.CountMore.org is a new site that makes it easy to compare any two states and see how critical the presidential race is in each.

After comparing states they can get registered and sign up to vote absentee.

Many students don't realize that they have a choice, and many others aren't registered at all. Registration deadlines are coming fast (many are on Oct 6th).

This is a high leverage and very easy way to get more votes where they count most.  Please help more students become aware of their options by sending countmore to all your college age friends.

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