Jim and Susan Phillips were loyal supporters of fellow North Carolina Democrat John Edwards and backed up their support with money. But a day after Edwards dropped out of the presidential race last month, Susan Phillips sent $500 to Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.

"He is the most likely guy to bring people together and the guy with the most potential to fundamentally change the way we do business in the United States," said Jim Phillips, a Greensboro lawyer and chairman of the UNC system board of governors.

Of the $44 million Edwards raised through December, more than $2.6 million came from the Carolinas.

Interviews with nearly 20 of Edwards' top contributors in the Carolinas, selected randomly, showed a majority of them tilting toward Obama, with some undecided.

No contributors said they're ready to back Hillary Clinton.

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