Obama envisions big push in North Carolina

The campaign of Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Wednesday that it was making a major effort in North Carolina because of the alignment of the issues and because of an unprecedented get-out-the-vote push.

"The people want out of this war, and they want some changes in the economy," Democratic Gov. Mike Easley said during an Obama campaign teleconference. "It's going to be very difficult for the people of North Carolina to vote for the status quo rather than change, which is where we are right now."

The Obama campaign said it had so far opened 16 offices across the state, spent more than $2 million in TV ads and registered thousands of new voters.

"We are in striking distance," Patrick Gaspard, the Obama national political director, said of North Carolina.

The campaign seemed to be reaching out to blue-collar workers, who tended to vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton in the May primary. It will emphasize rising gas prices, manufacturing jobs lost through unfavorable trade deals and John McCain's opposition to the farm bill.

Since January, Democrats have picked up 169,635 new voters, the campaign said, while Republicans have gained more than 51,542.

Easley not angling for work

Easley says he's not looking for a job.

The governor says he hasn't chatted with Obama or his staff about a job in Washington.

"I've not had any discussions of that sort," Easley said Wednesday. "And I'm sure whatever the position is, he can probably find somebody better than me."

Easley's name has floated around political circles for several presidential cycles as someone who could land in a Democratic administration. He's a governor of a Southern state, and he has been mentioned as a long-shot option for Obama's vice presidential pick.

Easley will finish the second of his two terms this year, and he cannot run again.

Easley professed no self-interest when asked about his future Wednesday in a conference call with reporters.

"I'm interested in helping Barack Obama win, so that the people of America win, and that's all I'm interested in," Easley said. "I've been in public service 30 years. I'm sort of like the rat -- I've had enough cheese, I just want to get out of the trap. I think it's important to focus on what's in it for America, not what's in it for me."

Etheridge on energy matters

U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, in town this week during the summer congressional recess, talked about energy prices.

He talked about his bill to boost the number of federal investigators of excessive oil speculation, saying, "Right now, we need more cops on the beat."

His bill failed in the House of Representatives in a vote that required the support of two-thirds of the House members, but he hopes it will pass in September, when it will require only a simple majority.

Etheridge also talked about his support of Democratic legislation that requires oil companies to search for oil on 68 million acres of land already leased for drilling from the federal government. That bill failed along party lines, with Republicans opposed.

Etheridge, a Lillington Democrat, spoke to county commissioners from Johnston and Wake.

Post: N.C. in swing column

The Washington Post is calling North Carolina a swing state.

In an interactive map on its Web site, the paper rates the chances of the presidential campaigns of Obama and McCain: "A stretch for Democrats, but Obama's team hopes a huge turnout from black voters will make this a battleground. Even the presence of John Edwards as the Democratic vice presidential nominee didn't help in 2004, as John Kerry lost the state by 12 points."