Free Republic

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Barack Obama says anything can happen in the remaining days to the election -- but he's sounding increasingly optimistic. At a fundraiser last night in Philadelphia, Obama called it in some ways "a celebratory event." He said they were coming to the end of what he called "an extraordinary journey." Obama also seemed to look ahead to his first term, talking about setting priorities and fights he's likely to have with his own party. Obama and his supporters have some grounds for optimism. Polls show him leading in several battleground states. He told donors his lead in...

October 11, 2008 Contact: Press Office NASCAR Legend Richard Petty Endorses John McCain ARLINGTON, VA -- McCain-Palin 2008 today announced that Richard Petty, widely known as the greatest driver in NASCAR history, is endorsing John McCain for president. Petty is announcing his endorsement at today's Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. "What we need right now in these uncertain times is a steady hand on the wheel -- a leader we can trust to put country first, ahead of politics," Petty said. "John McCain has always done that, and if you need proof, think about...

Senator Elizabeth Dole, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, tells Newsmax TV she and other Republicans tried to move legislation five years ago to rein in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac but Democrats blocked their efforts and it "infuriates" her to think about how that could have prevented what eventually happened.

Raleigh, N.C. — More than half of North Carolina voters said they disapproved of the recent $700 billion federal bailout of the U.S. financial industry, and they were evenly split on whether the move would help or hurt the economy, according to a new WRAL News poll. Polling firm Rasmussen Reports surveyed 500 self-described likely voters statewide on Wednesday and found that 51 percent disagreed with the plan for the government to buy up bad assets from banks to stabilize the economy. Twenty-one percent agreed with the plan, while the remaining respondents said they weren't sure about it. The poll...

This Sunday, October 12th, please join President Bill Clinton for a rally in Roanoke, where he will talk about Barack's vision for creating the kind of change we need. Change We Need Rally with President Bill Clinton Market Square 1 Market Square Roanoke, VA Public Entrances: Corner of Jefferson St. and Campbell St. Corner of Church Ave. and Market St. Sunday, October 12th Gates Open: 4:45 p.m. Program Begins: 6:15 p.m. http://va.barackobama.com/Roanoke The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required; however an RSVP is strongly encouraged. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For...

Generous congressional retirement benefits are turning former lawmakers into pension millionaires. Some want to change this. But will they create a true "citizen's Congress," or just a rich person's club? By most standards, Colorado's Pat Schroeder and Pennsylvania's Robert Walker have had long and productive careers representing their constituents in the US House of Representatives. Schroeder, a Democrat, is Congress's leading advocate for women in combat, and was an early coauthor of the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act. Walker, a Republican, has chaired the House Science Committee in the 104th Congress and is a key deputy to Speaker Newt...

RALEIGH, North Carolina: Enrollment of minorities in U.S. colleges has increased substantially in recent years, but not fast enough to keep up with demographic changes. Among Hispanics, a lower proportion who are in theri late 20s has completed at least a two-year degree when compared with those age 30 and older. Unless the trend is reversed, the increases in Hispanic participation in higher education won't be enough to ensure that a growing proportion earn a college degree. The findings are highlighted in a biennial report to be released Thursday by the American Council on Education, supported by the GE Foundation....

McCain gaining on Obama in new Rasmussen State Polls (Florida, NC, NJ) NJ: 50 to 42 for Obama (on 9/16 it was 55 to 42 for Obama) FL: 50 to 47 for Obama (on 10/5 it was 52 to 45 for Obama) NC: 49 to 48 for Obama (on 9/30 it was 50 to 47 for Obama) The only exception to this positive trend in Rasmussen state polling is Michigan, where McCain is now down 16. McCain's very public withdrawal probably hurts.

I hope this is true!! Obama and his Mama have been to this state about 5 times. McCain hasn't come at all and the state that's always been red, is now turning blue!

Thousands of allegedly fake voter registrations by a nationwide organization are being investigated. At least nine states are reviewing voter paperwork, and Allegheny County police are looking into similar accusations. Employees of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, commonly known as ACORN, are under investigation in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin since local election officials started noticing irregularities among the thousands of registrations submitted by ACORN. The ACORN organizer in one state said the organization had no way of checking all registrations. Officials in Missouri, a hard-fought jewel in the presidential...

Obama Puts McCain on Defensive in North Carolina: In an election for President of the United States in North Carolina today, 10/07/08, four weeks till votes are counted, Republican John McCain edges Democrat Barack Obama, or possibly does not, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted for WTVD-TV Raleigh. The contest today stands at McCain 49%, Obama 46%, if black turnout is 20% on Election Day, as SurveyUSA expects and as SurveyUSA herein reports. However, if black turnout increases by 10%, to 22% of the electorate, the world looks different. The contest in North Carolina has tightened since a SurveyUSA poll...

With less than four weeks to go before the presidential election, almost 2,000 people in the region have registered to vote in the past month.

Join us this week for some racing near Charlotte at Lowe's Motor Speedway and Race #5 in the Chase for the Cup. Last week made a mess of things for a few drivers. Time to Crank It Up or Bust! This thread is dedicated to our troops serving our nation today with pride and to those who have sacrificed all.

Michelle Obama told a crowd of military families near the Marine Corps' massive base at Camp Lejeune on Tuesday there is "only one candidate" for president who will work to give them the services and care they need. "When I look at the two candidates and their plans for America ... and when I think about the military families I've met across the country and the kind of help that they could use right now - not in four years or eight years but right now - then the choice is clear," the wife of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama...

SurveyUSA 10/05 - 10/06 617 LV Hagan 43 Dole 44 Dole +1

Washington, DC -- A new video by a pro-life student group claims Planned Parenthood, the leading abortion business, is not properly reporting statutory rape cases. Planned Parenthood has come under fire for years in various states for doing secret abortions on teens who are victims of sexual abuse.

ARLINGTON, VA, October 6, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Students for Life of America (SFLA) has released a video exposing two Planned Parenthood clinics in Winston-Salem and Charlotte, North Carolina covering up statutory rape of young girls. To view the video, go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkakpcWSyWY In June of 2008, two college women volunteering for Students for Life of America entered two clinics in North Carolina posing as underage girls, 15 and 14, who just had unprotected sex with their mother's live-in boyfriend who was in his 30s. Each girl told the clinic workers that he suggested she come get the morning the Morning...

Bank of America Corp. announced a surprise dividend cut and a plan to sell $10 billion in stock to raise capital, as its third-quarter profit plunged amid a sharp deterioration in the outlook for consumer credit. The Charlotte, N.C., bank halved its dividend to 32 cents to add more than $1.4 billion to capital each quarter. Bank of America said it hopes to resume dividend increases as soon as its "earnings performance warrants." Net income fell 68%. The news sent shares down 7.5% to $29.82 in after-hours trading. "These are the most difficult times for financial institutions that I have...

Republican presidential nominee John McCain and his vice-presidential running mate, Sarah Palin, will appear in Virginia Beach next Monday morning at the resort city's convention center. That afternoon, Palin will stump in Richmond. She'll be the headliner at a rally at the Arthur Ashe Center.

Many of the registration gains in North Carolina and elsewhere came during the nominating battle between Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. While resulting in a long and costly primary season, it also helped draw voters onto the Democratic rolls.

Marchers took to the street this week, calling for the state to make reparations for the 1898 Wilmington riots. About a dozen people marched to the courthouse in Durham on Sunday. It was one of 13 such marches held across the state leading up to the 65th annual conference of the state NAACP, which starts Thursday. The marchers are asking state legislators to make payments to the descendants of those harmed in an insurrection that led to the deaths of at least 14 black people and perhaps many more. The riots were brought to the forefront when the 1898 Wilmington...

(October 18, 2004) North Carolina poll: Bush 50%, Kerry 47% [Actual Result: 56% to 44% for Bush]

10/06/2008 Road to Victory Rally: Monday October 6th in Clearwater, FL Please join Governor Sarah Palin & Your Florida Ticket for a Road to Victory Rally in Clearwater, FL on Monday October 6th. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10/06/2008 Road to Victory Rally: Monday October 6th in Ft. Myers FL Please join Governor Sarah Palin for a Road to Victory Rally in Ft. Myers, FL on Monday October 6th. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10/07/2008 Road to Victory Rally: Tuesday October 7th in Jacksonville, FL Please join Governor Sarah Palin for a Road to Victory Rally in Jacksonville, FL on Tuesday October 7th. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10/07/2008 Road to Victory...

GOP To Celebrate McCain/Palin During Obama Visit This Sunday, while Barack Obama holds a rally in Asheville, local Republican Party activists will gather at the Asheville High School beginning at noon, to show their support for Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin as well as Republican candidates at the local, state, and federal levels. The group will then reconvene at the City-County Plaza for a 3:30 press conference, where candidates and local business owners will talk about why it is essential for Republicans to be elected at all levels of government in order to get our economy and our...

10/06/2008 Road to Victory Rally: Monday October 6th in Clearwater, FL Please join Governor Sarah Palin & Your Florida Ticket for a Road to Victory Rally in Clearwater, FL on Monday October 6th. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10/06/2008 Road to Victory Rally: Monday October 6th in Ft. Myers FL Please join Governor Sarah Palin for a Road to Victory Rally in Ft. Myers, FL on Monday October 6th. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10/07/2008 Road to Victory Rally: Tuesday October 7th in Jacksonville, FL Please join Governor Sarah Palin for a Road to Victory Rally in Jacksonville, FL on Tuesday October 7th. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10/07/2008 Road to Victory...

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is a friend to terrorists, the running mate of Republican John McCain said on Saturday in the latest sign the final month of the campaign is turning increasingly nasty. The comment by Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin was dismissed by the Obama campaign as "gutter politics" and came shortly after the McCain campaign had already called the U.S. senator from Illinois a liar. With polls showing McCain trailing Obama in many battleground states, including several won by Republicans in the last presidential election in 2004, Palin told reporters she will be an attack dog...

A battle broke out for control of Wachovia on Friday as Wells Fargo signed a $15.1 billion agreement to buy the Charlotte, N.C.-based bank, while Citigroup and the federal regulators backing its earlier deal insisted that Citi's takeover bid go forward.

The A&T Register ncatregister.com Wednesday, April 16, 2008 Woman behind Duke lacrosse scandal speaks out Accuser talks to Aggies about being a student again after controversy surrounding trial faded Alexandria Harper Contributor It was called a scandal but made into mockery. The Duke lacrosse case hit radio and television stations by storm in 2007. Reporters from media outlets around the country scrambled to provide day to-day updates on Crystal Gail Mangum, the accuser, and three Duke Lacrosse players; Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and David Evans, the accused. Mangum, a former exotic dancer and escort, accused these men of sexual assault...

A number of readers have taken me to task over my contention ...that most poor people are impoverished by choice. To be clear, I don't mean that one day a person gets up and decides to live in poverty. I believe a person winds up poor because he or she chooses not to succeed. Truth is, staying above the poverty line is relatively simple. Basically, all that's required is to finish high school, wait until at least age 20 to get married and not have a child out of wedlock. Now how hard is that? Not very, which is why...

But the governor's race is an exception: Pat McCrory, the Republican mayor of Charlotte, now has a slight lead over Democratic Lieutenant Governor Bev Perdue. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds McCrory attracting 50% of the vote while Perdue earns 46%. This is the first time Rasmussen Reports has polled the governor’s race since mid-August, and it represents quite a reversal. In August, Perdue held a six-point advantage. She is currently serving her second term as lieutenant governor. McCrory has been Charlotte’s mayor since 1995.

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- A suspect was shot and killed during a robbery attempt near NC State Thursday night. Eyewitnesses say the owner of a local store opened fire as he was being held up around 9 p.m. Thursday The incident happened at Tienda Hispana Mi Barrio II on Western Boulevard near Clanton Street . Jose Jimenez, the owner's nephew, says his uncle shot a suspect who was trying to rob his store. Two other suspects fled the scene. According to the owner, he observed three Hispanic males enter the store. He said they appeared suspicious so he watched them closely....

WASHINGTON While dozens of their colleagues in both parties switched their votes from "no" on Monday to "yes" on Friday to help pass a $700 billion financial system rescue plan, local representatives remained unanimously opposed. Here's some of what members had to say after the 263-171 vote. U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake, R-Norfolk"I came to the conclusion that this bill is at its foundation fatally flawed. The bill pledges $700 billion of taxpayer dollars with no guarantee this will correct the underlying problem and stabilize the markets."Now that the vote is behind us, we all should agree that the next step is...

This one came across the desk this morning. It’s a portion of letter going out today(9/24/2008)from John Allison, President & CEO of BB&T, to every member of the US Congress. Key Points on “Rescue” Plan From A Healthy Bank’s Perspective

Road to Victory

10/07/2008 Road to Victory Rally: Tuesday October 7th in Greenville, NC Please join Governor Sarah Palin for a Road to Victory Rally in Greenville, NC on Tuesday October 7th.

Elon, N.C. — Nearly half of North Carolina residents blame the Republican Party for the nation's economic crisis, according to a poll released Friday. Elon University surveyed 477 people statewide this week and found that 47.7 percent felt the Republicans are more responsible for current economic problems, compared with 24.4 percent who blamed the Democrats. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.6 percentage points. By a 43-to-33 percent margin, respondents said Democrats have done a better job of managing the economy than Republicans. The margin between Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama GOP candidate John McCain...

GREENSBORO -- Vice presidential nominee Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will attend a fundraiser event on Oct. 16 in Greensboro, according to Joe Hauck at the New Breed Company in Greensboro. The event, which most likely won't be open to the public, will be held at the home of Louis DeJoy, president of Greensboro logistics copany New Breed, the News and Record reported. DeJoy is the state finance chair for the McCain/Palin ticket. Palin is also scheduled to make another swing through the Tarheel state leading up to Election Day in November. She will be attending a rally on the campus...

NEW YORK - Wells Fargo says it is acquiring Wachovia in an all-stock transaction worth about $15.1 billion, as Wachovia ends talks with rival suitor Citigroup.

Greensboro, N.C. — Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin will attend a rally in Greenville next week, a campaign official said late Wednesday. The Oct. 7 event at East Carolina University will be the first appearance in North Carolina by either Palin or Republican presidential candidate John McCain since the state's May primary. ... Doors to the Minges Coliseum are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. for the rally, but campaign officials didn't say when the event would start.

Screenshot of the relevant pages

Raleigh, N.C. — Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory has edged ahead of Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue in the gubernatorial race with less than five weeks until the election, according to a new WRAL News poll. Polling firm Rasmussen Reports surveyed 700 likely voters statewide Tuesday and found that McCrory, the Republican candidate, holds a 50 to 46 percent lead over Perdue, the Democratic candidate. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. The poll reverses the findings of a WRAL News poll taken in August, when Perdue held a 6-point lead. An Elon University poll...

Burr will vote yes, Dole no, on bailout Barbara Barrett, Staff Writer Comment on this story U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican, plans to support tonight's Senate vote on a bailout deal for the financial markets. In a statement on the Senate floor, Burr said he believes both the markets and small businesses need the stability that a rescue plan will offer, warning of an economic downturn rivaling the Great Depression if action isn't taken. Burr also blamed the crisis on "greedy behavior." "Much of what got us to this point was not only reckless behavior on Wall Street,...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- His sister's murder remains a mystery five months after her body was found on the banks of the Catawba River. Irina Yarmolenko, a 20-year-old UNC-Charlotte student, was killed in May. On Tuesday night, her brother met with students on campus to talk about the status of the case and their fears, because her killer still hasn't been caught. Pavel Yarmolenko stood at a college lectern with images of his murdered sister playing on the screen behind him. He is a devastated older brother. "I’m just kind of going on, thinking about it pretty much all the time,"...

Spurred by heavy registration in big urban counties -- particularly among young voters and black people -- North Carolina's voter rolls have swelled by more than 600,000 this year to a record 6 million. "Voter registration has eclipsed all records, no doubt about it," said state elections director Gary Bartlett. The apparent beneficiaries: Democrats. Analysts say the changes have helped Democrat Barack Obama make the state an unexpected presidential battleground. "Clearly, the advantage goes to Obama," said Ferrel Guillory, director of the Program on Public Life at UNC-Chapel Hill. Democrats have an overall edge in registration in this state: 2.7...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2008 – The Defense Department today announced replacement units scheduled to deploy next year to Iraq. About 26,000 troops from an Army corps headquarters, an Army division headquarters, a Marine expeditionary force headquarters, an Army fires brigade and six Army brigade combat teams are scheduled to rotate into Iraq between this winter and next summer, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. Units receiving deployment orders are: -- 1st Corps Headquarters, Fort Lewis, Wash.; -- 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; -- 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; -- 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort...

September 30, 2008 Presidential Ballots State McCain Obama Other Undecided Nevada: McCain leads 49%-47% North Carolina: McCain leads: 49%-46% Virginia: McCain leads (49%-46%)

Ballot

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama suggested this weekend that the children of illegal immigrants should have an opportunity to attend public community colleges -- thereby interjecting himself into a contentious North Carolina issue. Obama said children who attended public schools should have the chance to continue to improve themselves rather than being consigned to the fringes of society. "For us to deny them access to community college, even though they've never lived in Mexico, at least as far as they can tell ... is to deny that this is how we've always built this country up," Obama said in an...

More good news! Public Policy Polling, a Democrat Pollster, revealed a poll today showing Obama +2 in North Carolina. But one quick look at the internals reveals a steady McCain lead, when real numbers are applied. What do I mean? The Party turnout in the 2004 election? Republicans 40% Democrats 39% (GOP +1%) The Party breakdown in this poll? Democrats 48% Republicans 34% (Democrats +14%) Breaking down the poll by 2004 turnout numbers, we get these corrected numbers: McCain: 48.4% Obama: 41.0% Others: 10.6% (McCain by 7.4%!) Even if the Dems have relatively expanded their party, and even by a...

An illegal Mexican immigrant living in Hope Mills has been charged with sex crimes involving a teenage girl. Erick Cisneros-Zavala, 25, of the 4800 block of South Main Street, was arrested Friday at a home he shared with a relative, according to a news release from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. Bail was set at $15,000, according to the release. He was charged with statutory rape, statutory sex offense against a child and taking indecent liberties with a child. Investigators said the offenses occurred Thursday with a 14-year-old girl. Debbie Tanna, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Office, said Cisneros-Zavala was...