Obama rep: Don't worry, our ads will be back

Barack Obama's campaign manager said Monday that the campaign soon will return to the airwaves in North Carolina and other battleground states.

David Plouffe told reporters at the Democratic National Convention in Denver that the campaign had pulled ads during convention week.

"We weren't going to be anywhere this week," Plouffe said. "We'll be back very, very soon in North Carolina on the air."

Plouffe called North Carolina "a central battleground." He said with its relatively large black population and large numbers of voting-age young people, the state is one of several Southern targets, along with Virginia, Georgia and Florida.

Each of those states went for Republican George W. Bush in 2004.

New faces in delegation

There are plenty of familiar faces in North Carolina's delegation to the national convention -- from congressmen such as David Price, Bob Etheridge and Brad Miller to state legislative leaders such as House Speaker Joe Hackney and Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand.

But what has struck many is how many new faces are in the crowd, many of them younger people attracted by Obama's campaign.

David Parker, a veteran Democratic National Committeeman from Statesville, said he didn't know a large number of the delegates, many of whom are attending their first convention.

New No. 1 for lobbyists

A new ranking says Raleigh has a new top lobbyist. It also says some lobbyists' influence has been shaped by ethics investigations and a fight over a real estate transfer tax.

The N.C. Center for Public Policy Research released its biannual ranking of the most influential lobbyists in the capital. The ranking is based on a survey of legislators, lobbyists and journalists.

Roger Bone ranked No. 1 after seven previous surveys had ranked him No. 2 or 3. His clients include Lorillard Tobacco Co., the N.C. Association of Long Term Care Facilities and the Save our Summers group.

Rounding out the top five: John McMillan, John Bode, Franklin Freeman and Zeb Alley.

Previous No. 1 Don Beason fell to No. 35, following revelations about a $500,000 transaction between him and former House Speaker Jim Black. Beason later quit lobbying. Black, a Democrat, is in prison on unrelated corruption convictions.

Bob Hall, who filed the original complaint against Black with the State Board of Elections, saw his ranking jump from 49th to 19th for his work with Democracy North Carolina.

Also seeing their rankings rise: Tim Kent (11th), Rick Zechini (12th), Paul Meyer (25th) and Jim Blackburn (31st). All were involved in the fight over a tax on real estate transfers.

Any donor want to sue?

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett says campaign donors could sue John Edwards.

Buffett, a Barack Obama supporter, speaking to CNBC anchor Becky Quick on Friday, said Edwards misled donors by assuring them there was no truth to a tabloid report that he had an affair. Edwards since has acknowledged having an affair with campaign videographer Rielle Hunter.

Edwards has a responsibility to the donors who sent in small amounts, Buffett said.

"You know, I think if I were Edwards, I might give up a haircut or two and refund at least, you know the people that gave the $50 or $100, $200 items, because if they had known the facts, they wouldn't have sent him the money, and he was the guy that didn't give them the facts," Buffett said. "I mean, he knew that in effect he would not be elected president."

Buffett said a class action lawsuit by donors might have a chance of success, although he has heard no rumblings of such a lawsuit.

"I've seen a lot of class action suits with less to it than this particular case," Buffett said. "The facts are clear. He solicited money, and he wasn't telling the truth to people he was soliciting it from."

'The Other Edwards'

U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards thinks the other Edwards -- John, that is -- may have hurt his chances of becoming Obama's running mate.

Edwards, a Texas Democrat, told Cox News Service that the former North Carolina senator's recent admission to an extramarital affair made it difficult for Obama to put him on the ticket.

"I would have to think that a bumper sticker that said 'Obama/The Other Edwards' might have been a bit difficult," Edwards said.