The Virginia Democrat, an Obama supporter since before the Iowa caucuses, says North Carolina has similar demographics to his home state, which Obama won in the Democratic presidential primary.

In Elizabeth City for a voter registration drive, Scott told Dome he thinks Obama would carry the same vote that Sen. Jim Webb and Govs. Doug Wilder and Tim Kaine have gotten in Virginia, and that could mean a general election fight for North Carolina as well.

That would cut against the grain of recent elections. Virginia hasn't gone for a Democrat for president since Lyndon Johnson; North Carolina since Jimmy Carter.

"If we can carry one or two southern states, it would be hard to write a list of states the Republicans could win to add up to 278 electoral votes," he said.

Scott said that would force Republican nominee Sen. John McCain to campaign in the South instead of spending his time in traditional swing states such as Missouri and Ohio.

Michelle Obama to visit

Obama's wife, Michelle, will visit Raleigh and Winston-Salem on Tuesday.

The first event will be at 2:30 p.m. at Winston-Salem State University. The second will be at 7:30 p.m. at Reynolds Coliseum at N.C. State University in Raleigh.

Doors open at both events an hour before the start time. Free tickets are available at nc.barackobama.com.

Hospital tale disputed

While visiting North Carolina, Chelsea Clinton told an anecdote that turned out not to be true.

During speeches before the Young Democrats convention and at NCSU and Peace College, Clinton told a moving story of a pregnant Ohio woman who died because she did not have the $100 to get into a hospital.

As it turns out, U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has told the same story on the campaign trail. And the hospital in question -- O'Bleness Memorial Hospital in Athens, Ohio -- has told The New York Times it is not accurate.

"We implore the Clinton campaign to immediately desist from repeating this story," hospital chief executive Rick Castrop told the paper. He said the woman was not denied care.

Hillary Clinton's version of the anecdote was almost word-for-word the same as Chelsea's.

Dole walks the dog

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole needs to get her walking shoes on.

On Friday, the Salisbury Republican and her husband, former Sen. Bob Dole, agreed to a not-so-friendly wager on the NCAA tournament game Saturday between UNC-Chapel Hill and the University of Kansas.

The loser of the bet had to donate $1,000 to the academic scholarship fund of the winning team's school as well as assume dog-walking duties for the couple's miniature schnauzer, Leader.

"One North Carolina team already had Kansas on the ropes, and now it's time for the Tar Heels to finish the Jayhawks off," Elizabeth Dole said in a statement.

There has been no word from the Dole household now that the Jayhawks beat the Tar Heels, but Leader won either way.

Myrick hosting Kemp

U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick will host Jack Kemp in Charlotte.

The former Republican vice presidential candidate will be the honored guest at a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. April 28 at the Westin Charlotte.

OVERHEARD

'One North Carolina team already had Kansas on the ropes, and now it's time for the Tar Heels to finish the Jayhawks off.'

- U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, in a statement about a charitable bet with her husband, former Sen. Robert Dole of Kansas, before Saturday's Final Four contest between UNC-Chapel Hill and the University of Kansas. UNC lost.