Fans, vendors out for Obama

Lucy Froehlich was fired up.

Of course, it's not hard for a 7-year-old to get fired up after a can of Coke. Her 10-year-old brothers, Harrison and Jake, and Harrison's friend, James Hale, were also ready to go.

"We've already had five Cokes!" shouted Harrison.

His father, Sam, had given the kids some soda to make sure they made it through the two-hour wait in line and the inevitable delay of Barack Obama's Greensboro rally Saturday morning.

Lucy explained, in her Coke-fueled way, why she was so excited to be at her first political rally.

"I think he should be president because he'll make good laws," she said, then added, "I'm not sure what laws do."

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Forget his economic plan.

Barack Obama is already boosting one part of the North Carolina economy: swag.

At Saturday's rally, campaigners and hustlers sold T-shirts and hats with Obama's face and other memorabilia.

There were ponchos, mouse pads, playing cards (with John McCain as the joker) and teddy bears.

A more unusual item turned out to have a practical purpose: A hand towel bearing Obama's face was a hedge against rain, since umbrellas were forbidden at the rally.

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Kirk Webb went from one swing state to another.

The environmental engineer moved to the Triad in July when his partner got a job at UNC-Greensboro. Previously, they'd lived in Colorado, where they volunteered for Barack Obama.

His one regret was that they left before the Denver convention.

Still wearing his "Colorado for Obama" T-shirt, Webb said he'd seen a lot of his independent-minded friends back there moving toward Obama.

"I think he has a great chance in Colorado," he said. "He has a good chance in North Carolina."

His partner, Brian Sevier, said he'd noticed more of his education students interested in campaigning for Obama.

"It's really great to see that enthusiasm," he said. "That's something this country hasn't seen in 30 years -- at least as long as any of them have been alive."