Campaigns scout out North Carolina

The Democratic presidential campaigns are beginning to send scouting parties to North Carolina, preparing for a possible showdown here

David Plouffe, Barack Obama's campaign manager, held a series of meetings in Raleigh on Thursday in an effort to line up support in the state.

"North Carolina could end up being very important in the nomination fight," Plouffe said before meeting about two dozen Democrats at a Raleigh law office.

Meanwhile, Jay Dunn, a Hillary Rodham Clinton fundraiser, was to hold meetings today in Raleigh and Greensboro.

There is a growing chance that the fight for the presidential nomination might still be competitive when North Carolina holds its primary May 6.

Moreover, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who suspended his presidential campaign, has yet to endorse another candidate. Clinton and Obama have been chasing Edwards donors and are seeking his endorsement. Edwards has not said whether he will endorse anyone. Obama met with Edwards at his home outside Chapel Hill on Sunday; Clinton met with Edwards earlier this month.

Plouffe said his North Carolina trip was not focused on courting an Edwards endorsement.

If Obama is the nominee, Plouffe said, he would be competitive in North Carolina in the fall. Plouffe held one meeting at Edwards' old law office, which is headed by David Kirby, a longtime friend of Edwards'. Kirby was in court Thursday and did not attend the meeting.

The meeting included several Edwards backers, such as Chapel Hill businessman Michael Cucchiara, who donated $2 million to Edwards' anti-poverty center at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Cucchiara declined to comment on whether he would endorse Obama.

At least two other Edwards backers, Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy and former Mayor Rosemary Waldorf, have said they are backing Obama.