what happens. Endorsements didn't help Clinton in other states...and didn't help Obama in places like MA.

 We'll see what happens.

Heres to SIngle digits in NC!

Wow.  This is huge news!  Gov. Easley is a very popular governor.  This gives Hillary a shot!  Maybe now if Elizabeth Edwards would come out as well.  Hillary can win this thing!

Those who think Obama has it in the bag better think twice.

If he had it in the bag I don't think the NC gov. would risk his political career in a state that is a sure thing as Obama and his allies would like us to think.

By the way the internals of the AP poll shows independents moving to Clinton in great numbers .

NC has a democratic governor ?

The land of tobacco and Jesse Helms itself !!

WHOO HOO!!!!

awesome.

up in delegates...

Three people can help Hillary big time in NC:
1. Mike Easley

2. Elizabeth Edwards

3. Andy Griffith

The democratic vote will follow suit.

Another person would have been Dean Smith but even though he is stalwart of progressive politics in NC he refuses to be in the limelight.

I've seen quite a few Obama fans predicting Easely was going to endorse him so I'm going to wait until it's official. If he does endorse her with some of the stuff that's been going on over the past few days it could have an impact on the outcome.

I think this is great news for Clinton, and a tit-for-tat for Bingaman. However, I don't think endorsements really matter in the end, unless you have a machine that backs up the endorsement. This is a big get and a nice way to counter Bingaman (also a big get).

I'm surprised. I would have sworn he would have endorsed Obama, if not before, but after Obama won the state. I could only hope that NC stays in the single digits. That and a win in Indiana will be much needed momentum.

We shall see if it helps - If nothing else, Hillary proved that mayors and local political operatives can get things done on the ground level - at times more so than higher level officials.  As an Obama supporter, if he doesn't win by double digits, it will be disappointing.  However, if Hillary doesn't take 70% of the remaining delegates, it's fatal.  I wish you guys good luck.

GREAT GREAT NEWS. THE WRIGHT COMMENTS ARE KILLING OBAMA, AMONG OTHER THINGS. Looks like Obama convincing win is no longer convincing in NC. Looks like a big win for Hillary in Indiana, which will be the beginning of the end for the Obama campaign. Congratulations Hillary.

Wonderful!

FANTASTIC!

c'mon Elizabeth!!!! We're waiting for you! Just do it!

Drip. Drip. Drip.

I just had to do it ;)

actually it is a big deal. it means she has a fighting chance in NC

makes my heart flutter!!

Its a really surprising endorsement .

It might mean he recognizes Obama is becoming toxic in the heartland .

Local republicans are absolutely giddy about running against Obama in Tennessee ever since Wrigth broke , I suspect he could be reading the mood in North Carolina .

Who knows.

It is surely a surprising development.

Congrats, Clinton supporters. That's a good endorsement for your candidate.

Great video.  You should do one with that song Tubthumping...'I get knocked down but I get up Again..."

I think that fits Hillary best.

The governor is a big endorsement if only for symbolic reasons.

Cerainly raises the stakes in NC, I mean if Hillary can't win with this endorsement (or at least keep it to around 5) you have to wonder if she can win significant African-American support in November-- if this is a result around the PA level then it cancels it out, push it to either side, then it would be crucial for one or the other.

The only thing coming out of my mouth is, WWWOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!

rec list! thanks all.

Am happy for our Hill.

I generally think that endorsements don't have too much of an impact.  However, they certainly didn't hurt Hillary in OH and PA.

Does Easley have a high approval rating?  

"I don't think Hillary can beat McCain."

Please do not underestimate her supporters, we are profoundly devoted to her. This is very personal to many of us. And do not underestimate her abilities as a candidate - with Mark Penn finally out of her way she is blossoming into the candidate we always have known her to be, and she is far more potent and moving than her earlier campaign was able to convey. Now she is stepping forward, and voters are responding to who she really is. That is actually the most important positive development that is changing the dynamics of this race, not the negatives that are befalling Barack Obama. If Senator Clinton were not out there running her own positive campaign without the interference of Penn, there would be no movement in the race. He miht move down a little, but she would not be improving in the polls the way she is now.

I predict this election will go far better than anyone anticipates right now, and soon we will have our first women president, who will be one of the smartest and most effective leaders our country has ever enjoyed. Start looking forward to a better economy and a return to honorable standing in the world!

AWESOME endorsement, on top of the fact that he's a SD. I'm feeling a big upset brewing!

You gotta look at a few things.

This guy is not running for re-election, while the candidates who ARE running to replace him are endorsing Obama. In other words, the ones who have to face the voters must figure it's better to side with Obama than with Clinton.

Easley is considered a "conservative Democrat", which would mean that his endorsing Hillary shouldn't come as any surprise.

And he has publicly agreed with Clinton that there should be another debate... something Obama has resisted. Again, this should make it obvious who he'd support.

So overall, like I said this is of course good news for Clinton... but it in no way can be considered a surprise.

Cool.  More DLC Democrats support Hillary.  Now, I want to support Hillary too....

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid =253914&kaid=104&subid=116

Gotta love the Obama response..."well uhh, this doesn't matter...blah blah blah not a big get" when you know that if he endorsed Obama, they would be having a circle jerk about it.

That's a big endorsement for Hillary.  I still don't think she has much of a chance of coming within 10% of Obama, let alone winning.  If the black vote makes up 40% of the electorate and Obama takes 85% of that and 35% of the rest, he wins by 10.

For Hillary to actually win she'd need alot of the following to happen:

1) African american vote below 30% of total (should be over 35%).

2) Win 20% or better of the African american vote (Obama should win at least 85%, and I'm thinking closer to 90%).

3) Obama to drop below 30% of the non-African American vote (I would guess 35% would be a floor, and would think he'd clear better than 40%).

So Obama picks up a Senator, Clinton picks up a governor.  End result, 2 less uncommitted superdelegates for Clinton to try to make up the pledged delegate deficit with.  If they keep trading endorsements (split the rest 50-50) Obama still wins.  She needs to start expanding her superdelegate lead, not just keeping it in the low 20s.

When I saw the news "big superdelegate endorsement for Hillary Clinton" I was relieved that it was Easley.  He's extremely conservative and he's not up for reelection; we tarheels had already mentally put him in her camp.

Good News comes to good people.

Bad news for Obama...

LOL Governor's have power in their states this will help Clinton no question. Democrats were begging Easely to challenge Dole so he must be popular

Great news! I heard it on ABC News too.

An awesome video you created. Not exactly my style of music but a very effective presentation.

And you are right. We need a fighter!

I must say i am shocked.  I figured with the way his state is going and almost every other elected official supposedly leaning Obama, i thought at the most he would sit this out if not endorse Obama.

Now she must win . . . or keep her margin of defeat below 5% in NC . . . or the MSM will be in FULL SPIN against her. Next week will be a nail-biter.

Hmmm, lets see.  First Hillary was virtually the only national political figure who refused to stand up for Lieutenant Governor Beverly Perdue and State Treasurer Richard Moore, the two folks vying to replace Easley, and who both shockingly happened to be Obama supporters.

Now Easley comes out endorsing Clinton.  Funny.  Why  am I not surprised.  

Coincidence?  I seriously doubt it. I wonder what Hillary promised Easley for his vote. Oh well, at least Easley is a relatively weak governor by all accounts, and whomever is the next democratic governor will have better judgment than the one on the way out.

this guy would be great, as he is an outsider and from a possible state we could use, and even if we can't get NC, he could help get Tennessee or Kentucky. Unlike Edwards, he doesn't look so movie star like

Ah, but you know the phrase: Yes, she can.  Have faith.

Funny how Obama suppporters keep salivating about how unpopular Easley is, when his popularity is much higher than Duval Patrick, the carbon copy of Obama in Mass...

This is what u call a profile in courage! Hillary will likely not win the state, but Easely is doing what he thinks is right.

Above that and he has done well.   10-15% good night for Clinton but reasonable.   Anything single digits is a victory for Clinton.