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I started to post this in Tatiana's thread, but it really needed to be on its own.
While not canvassing for any candidate, I have talked to or overheard a lot of people the past few days in central and eastern NC - extended family, friends, and total strangers. Also local news. My biggest surprise was seeing people in eastern NC talking about the election in the checkout lines. I have never witnessed anything like that before, even if it was little more than "Who are they for up your way?", "Probably none of the above.", or "How close you think it's going to be?".
Like Tatiana found in IN, I sense that NC voters know the issues, the candidate's positions, and can have civil discussions without the rancor we see at DU. The NC economy is a bit better than what you report in IN, but eastern NC is doing a lot worse than here in the Triangle.
Some things seem really different in NC. Obama hurt his own credibility while dealing with Wright when he initially denied knowing about any of it until the videos appeared. The videos of Wright and the perception that Obama had lied undermined him as a unifying new kind of politician. I think this cost him a lot of votes among white voters who had responded positively to his Reagan-like language.
High Dem registration, particularly among blacks. White males will vote Clinton and McCain in November. They still think McCain can win over either (certainly true in NC), still hate Clinton, and believe is a socialist or worse.
Most people are pretty cynical and doubt any politician will do what they are promising or anything else that will help them. There is a strong populist component in NC politics of all types.
I gained some insight at the gas pump. I heard two guys at nearby pumps joking about the gas tax holiday, that it would be more than $30 for them, no way it would happen, just pandering -- "But at least this time they are pandering to us."
CW is Obama but closer than expected.
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