THE POLLS: Barack Obama has a 7-point lead in North Carolina, according to a McClatchy Newspapers and MSNBC poll.

Obama had 51 percent of the vote, and Hillary Rodham Clinton had 44 percent. Among black voters, 88 percent supported Obama, and 5 percent, Clinton.

Among white voters, 66 percent supported Clinton, and 30 percent, Obama. The statewide poll of 500 likely Democratic voters was conducted April 29-30 by Research 2000. The margin of sampling error is 4.5 percentage points.

THE RALLIES, THE SPEECHES: With only days to go before the primary Tuesday, campaign events are crowding one another.

TODAY

* Hillary Rodham Clinton at John Deere, 1291 U.S. 258 North in Kinston. Doors open at 8 a.m.; event at 9 a.m. From there she goes to the Old County Courthouse on Main Street in Hendersonville. Doors at 10:15 a.m.; event at 12:15 p.m. Then she's at Ragan Brown Field House Gym at Guilford College in Greensboro. Doors open at 1:30 p.m.; event at 3:30 p.m.

She then takes a break to dine with Obama and 5,000 others at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner at Dorton Arena in Raleigh. Unlike the other events, this one costs big money and is sold out.

Dinner over, she'll cross the fairgrounds to a 'get out the vote' rally at 4224 Trinity Road. It begins at 9 p.m., but there's no telling when she'll get there.

* Michelle Obama at the Durham Armory, 220 Foster St. in Durham. Doors open at 11:30 a.m.; program at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are required; RSVP at nc.barackobama.com to receive a free ticket by e-mail. She then goes to the UNC-Asheville for a late-afternoon event.

* There will be a 'Change Rocks' concert by Arcade Fire and Superchunk at the Carrboro Town Commons. Gates open at 1 p.m. It's billed as an Obama event, but Clinton and McCain supporters like to rock, too.

* Barack Obama will be at a 'get out the vote' rally at Cricket Arena, 2700 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte. Doors open at 3:30; program begins at 5:30 p.m.

* Reminding us that Republicans vote, too, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who is still on the Republican ballot, speaks at 3:30 p.m. in Carmichael Auditorium at UNC-Chapel Hill. The event was moved from Carroll Hall to the larger venue after 1,200 people requested tickets. His talk at 6:30 p.m. in Duke University's Reynolds Theater is sold out.

* Chelsea Clinton is at events in Winston-Salem and Lexington.

IF YOU'RE PLANNING ...

SATURDAY

* Hillary Rodham Clinton, with Food Network star Paula Deen at Cary High School, 638 Walnut St. Doors open at 7 a.m.; event at 8:30 a.m. She'll also be at Wake Forest College Birthplace Museum, 414 N. Main St., Wake Forest. Doors open at 8 a.m.; event begins at 10 a.m. She then heads west to events in Gastonia and Mooresville before leaving for Indiana.

SUNDAY

* For the younger set, there's 'Bounce for Obama' with music, a 'Bounce for Obama' moonwalk, political sign making, voting booths for a mock election (complete with 'I voted' stickers) and live mini-Democratic donkeys. It's hosted by Jeff and Laurie Abbey, 1 to 4 p.m., 735 Gimghoul Road, Chapel Hill.