Record Early Voting in North Carolina

more than 488,000 have voted early, nearly 13% of eligible voters.

charlotte observer: With long lines for early voting and a spike in absentee ballots, the turnout Tuesday is expected to break records because of the tough-fought Democratic presidential primary. Longtime N.C. political observers say voters are so excited by the N.C. presidential primary that as many as 1.5 million of them may vote in the Democratic primary -- way beyond the record of 961,000 in 1984.

Add the Republicans who will vote in their own primary, with its competitive race for the gubernatorial nomination, and the total votes cast could pass 2 million.

"I'd tell Clinton and Obama to hold on tight," said Ferrel Guillory, founder and director of the Program on Public Life at UNC Chapel Hill. "They're going to have the biggest turnout ever in the state. I don't know if there's anything else they can do (to boost excitement). They've already done it, just by having this campaign."

Meanwhile, Republicans and Democrats running for everything from governor to county commissioner are busy reminding voters that Tuesday is also a major election for state and local offices.

In downtown Durham on Sunday, the Democratic candidates for governor both went to an interfaith event at First Presbyterian Church looking for votes as much as fellowship.

"Look at our records, not what we're saying now," said state Treasurer Richard Moore, highlighting efforts such as raising the minimum wage. "What have we done when we had the chance?"