An Onslaught of NC Support for Obama

former edwards backers, 49 of them, line up to support obama:

Raleigh, NC -- The Obama campaign today announced the endorsement of 49 prominent supporters of John Edwards - including Ed Turlington, Edwards’ former National General Chairman. These North Carolina leaders - ranging from Members of Congress to a former Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court to former law partners and longtime friends of John Edwards - cite Barack Obama’s commitment to fighting for change on behalf of working Americans and taking on the special interests in Washington.

"Barack Obama and John Edwards share a commitment to taking on special interests and standing up for regular Americans. Along with Edwards supporters from across the state, I am honored to join Senator Obama's movement for change,” said Turlington. “As president, he will bring together Democrats, Republicans and Independents behind an agenda of change. From ending the war in Iraq to confronting the scourge of poverty to making health care affordable for every single American, Barack Obama will bring our country the change we need.”

The diverse group said they are voting for Obama because he is the only candidate with a proven ability to unite America around a common vision and win the votes of Republicans and Independents whose support is critical to carrying the state in the fall.

Like Edwards, Obama refused donations from PACs and Washington lobbyists and vowed to stand up to the special interests that have blocked so much progress for working Americans in Washington, DC.

“John Edwards has dedicated his life and career to fighting poverty in America. Barack Obama demonstrated that same commitment when he turned down a high-paying job on Wall Street to work in Chicago communities decimated by steel mill closings,” said Louise Coggins, a social worker from Wilmington who has known John and Elizabeth Edwards for 30 years. “Senator Obama is now the only candidate in the race who doesn’t take money from PACs and federal lobbyists. We can count on him to stand up to special interests in Washington, DC on behalf of working men and women in America.”

David Price, U.S. Congressman (4th Dist) Mel Watt, U.S. Congressman (12th Dist) G.K. Butterfield, U.S. Congressman (1st Dist)
Peggy Abrams, Attorney, Doug Abrams, Attorney, Phil Baddour, Attorney & Former NC House Majority Leader Steven Bernholz, Attorney Clifford Britt, Attorney Wade Byrd, Attorney Stephen D. Coggins, Attorney Louise Coggins, Social Worker/Therapist W. Thompson Comerford, Jr., Attorney Michael Cucchiara, Business leader Lisbeth Evans, Secretary of NC Department of Cultural Resources Anthony Foxx, Charlotte City Councilman Henry Frye, Former Chief Justice of North Carolina Supreme Court Shirley Frye, Former Educator, Community Leader Harvey B. Gantt, Former Edwards National Co-Chair, Former Charlotte mayor Richard Gusler, Attorney Pricey Harrison, North Carolina State Representative Marty Hayes, Activist James Heavner, Business leader C. Mark Holt, Attorney Leonard Jernigan, Attorney Adelaide Key, Philanthropist Eleanor Kinniard, North Carolina State Senator Henry McKoy, Business leader Brownie Newman, Asheville City Council member Spencer Parris, Attorney Roger Perry, UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees--Chairman Jim Phillips Jr., Attorney and Chair, UNC Board of Governors Wade Smith, Attorney & Former State Democratic Party Chair Sallie Shuping Russell, Business leader and UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees Roger Smith, Attorney Bob Spearman, Attorney & Former Wake County Democratic Party Chair Pat Spearman, Activist Adam Stein, Attorney Nina Szlosberg, Conservationist & Department of Transportation Board Member Amy Tiemann, Writer Michael Tiemann, Red Hat Executive Kevin Trapani, President & CEO, The Redwoods Group Tim Toben, Business leader Ed Turlington, Attorney & Former Edwards National Chairman Marla Turlington, Activist Howard Twiggs, Attorney & Former State legislator Steve Warren, Attorney Willis P. Wichard, Author, Dean, and Former State Supreme Court Justice Carter Worthy, Realtor Todd Zapolski, Business leader

29 NC Legislators Endorse Obama

Today 29 members of the North Carolina state legislature endorsed Senator Obama, citing his ability to inspire and bring people together to move our country forward, and put an end to the divisive politics of Washington that have stalled progress on the great challenges facing our nation. The legislators’ endorsements are the latest addition to Obama’s grassroots movement for change, which has come to encompass a broad spectrum of North Carolinians – from the grassroots level to representatives in United States Congress – who will vote for change on May 6.

“Barack Obama is the best candidate to put North Carolina in play in the general and help downballot candidates in November,” said Senator Majority Leader Tony Rand. “Obama’s commitment to loosening the grip of the special interests and big corporations and investing in the middle class while bringing Democrats, Republicans and Independents together make him the best candidate to win here in the primary, and put North Carolina on the map for Democrats in the general election.”

“The American people have had enough of the game-playing and the politics that says you should say or do anything to win,” said former House Speaker Dan Blue. “They want something new, and that’s what this campaign is all about. That is why I’m supporting Senator Obama.”

“I am proud to have such a diverse group of leaders join our grassroots movement for change here in North Carolina. Together, we will work to keep America’s promise and pass universal health care, provide a world-class education for all children, put a tax cut into the pockets of middle class families, and stand up for hardworking Americans,” said Senator Obama.

Last week, Obama welcomed other notable North Carolina legislators – and Democratic superdelegates – to his campaign, U.S. Congressmen David Price and Mel Watt. He has also been endorsed by U.S. Congressman G.K. Butterfield.



North Carolina legislators endorsing Obama include:

Tony Rand, Senate Majority Leader, Cumberland
Doug Berger, State Senator, Franklin
Charlie Dannelly, State Senator, Mecklenburg
Katie Dorsett, State Senator, Guilford
Anthony Foriest, State Senator, Alamance
Linda Garrou, State Senator, Forsyth
Malcolm Graham, State Senator, Mecklenburg
Clark Jenkins, State Senator, Edgecombe
Edward Jones, State Senator, Halifax, Perquimans
Eleanor Kinnaird, State Senator, Orange
Vernon Malone, State Senator, Wake
Floyd McKissick, State Senator, Durham

Dan Blue, State Representative, Wake
Alma Adams, State Representative, Guilford
Angela Bryant, State Representative, Nash
Jean Farmer-Butterfield, State Representative, Wilson
Becky Carney, State Representative, Mecklenburg
Bill Faison, State Representative, Orange
Richard Glazier, State Representative, Cumberland
Larry Hall, State Representative, Durham
Ty Harrell, State Representative, Wake
Pricey Harrison, State Representative, Guilford
Sandra Hughes, State Representative, New Hanover
Marvin Lucas, State Representative, Cumberland
Grier Martin, State Representative, Wake
Annie Mobley, State Representative, Bertie
Henry Michaux, Jr., State Representative, Durham
Edith Warren, State Representative, Pitt
Michael Wray, State Representative, Warren