Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008

Carolinas delegates optimistic about Obama

By Jim Morrill

jmorrill@charlotteobserver.com

DENVER |Nearly 200 Democratic delegates from the Carolinas are flocking to Denver this week, optimistic about Barack Obama's chances of winning their states but worried that a relative lack of experience and lingering racial sentiments could hurt him.

An Observer survey of Carolinas delegates also shows that most don't expect Hillary Clinton supporters to desert the party, but the delegates don't want her husband playing that big a role in the campaign.

The Carolinians will be among more than 4,400 delegates at a convention expected to make history by making Obama the first African American nominee of a major party. The convention starts Monday at Denver's Pepsi Center. It ends Thursday with Obama's acceptance speech at Invesco Field.

“I'm extremely excited,” says delegate Bridget Tripp, an African American from Columbia. “I can remember watching the civil rights movement on TV. So this is huge for me … watching the transition from the old guard to the new.”

Tripp, a 49-year-old real estate agent, is one of dozens of Carolinians attending their first convention.

“There are probably more first-time delegates than we've ever had,” says Jerry Meek, North Carolina's Democratic chairman. “A lot of it is just the number of new people who came into the process through Sen. Obama.”

Of the roughly half of Carolinas delegates responding to the survey, Obama was the early favorite of most, followed by Clinton and former Sen. John Edwards. Asked to rate their excitement about Obama now, two-thirds pegged it at “10,” the top of the scale.

The Illinois senator is trying to become the first Democratic candidate to carry either of the Carolinas since Jimmy Carter in 1976. Many delegates, particularly in North Carolina, say he has a good chance.

“(There are) a number of very specific reasons,” says Ed Turlington, a Raleigh lawyer. “The campaign is making a major emphasis in North Carolina.”

Delegates are usually optimistic at convention time. A poll released last week by Raleigh's Civitas Institute showed McCain leading Obama in the state 46 percent to 40 percent, with a 4-point margin of error.

But more than previous Democratic nominees, Obama already has poured resources into North Carolina. His appearance in Raleigh last week was his second in the state since May's primary. His campaign also has spent more than $2 million on TV ads, opened 16 offices and registered thousands of voters. He is pulling ads in North Carolina during the convention but says that's not an indication that he's not doing well here.

Since January, N.C. Democrats have netted more than 166,000 new voters, compared to 19,000 for Republicans.

The Clinton factor

When Clinton suspended her campaign in June, delegate Marc Friedland of Charlotte helped circulate a petition to put her name in nomination. Most consider that a formality. Friedland's not so sure.

“According to party rules, we don't have a candidate until the votes are counted,” says Friedland, 59, owner of the just-closed Talley's Green Grocery in Charlotte. “So anything can happen.”

His wife, Jyoti, who's not a delegate, plans to join other Clinton supporters in Denver protesting Obama's nomination. While some Carolinas delegates worry that such disgruntled Democrats will stay home or even support Republican John McCain, most believe Democrats will unify.

“Sen. Obama won the primary, and he's the candidate,” says Clinton delegate Melissa Reed of Raleigh, a Planned Parenthood administrator. “Once voters, especially women voters, are educated on the differences between McCain and Obama … they'll feel very strongly that their interests are best met when they vote for Sen. Obama.”

Carolinas delegates say Obama should talk about ending the war in Iraq and eight years of Republican rule.

“A vote for McCain is a vote for more Bush-Cheney,” says Bill Georgiou, 28, of Kannapolis, who works in hospitality management.

But by large margins, most delegates say Obama should hone in on one issue: the economy. An Observer/NewsChannel 36 Carolinas Poll found 44 percent of Carolinians rank the economy as their top concern, far ahead of anything else.

“That's kind of the kitchen-table issue that affects most people's lives directly,” says Vinod Thomas of Cornelius, who works at a movie theater. “With gas prices and everything, people are starting to see that the decisions made by their elected leaders have tangible effects on their day-to-day lives.”

Obama's vulnerabilities

When delegate Carol Peterson talks about Obama, she usually hears one concern: his lack of experience.

“That's the first thing people say when his name comes up,” says Peterson, 67, a Buncombe County commissioner. “I don't think they're thinking about the experience he's had in state government. … in problem-solving at so many different levels.”

Among N.C. delegates, experience - or public perception of it - is seen as Obama's biggest vulnerability. Delegates also worry about the rumors about Obama's religion or his potential “Swift-boating” by GOP adversaries.

But others say he also faces resistance because of his race.

“It's unfortunate, but I think we're still a pretty racist society,” says Pricey Harrison, a white delegate and state lawmaker from Greensboro. “I've worked the polls. I know how some of my constituents feel about the issue.”

S.C. delegate Gilda Cobb-Hunter, a black state legislator from Columbia, says there are “a lot of people who will not admit publicly that they are not supporting Sen. Obama because of race.”

“So they look for other reasons for the lack of support,” she says, “inexperience (or) ‘We don't know enough about him.'”

One delegate fired up for Obama is Grace Liem, a nurse practitioner from Concord. With the war, the economy, and what she calls the stolen election of 2000, she's ready for change.

“I'm tired of being lied to by this government; I'm tired of my rights being taken away,” she says in a breathless voice. “It's my country. I need to take it back.”

Notable Carolinians at the convention

Here's a look at some of the Carolinas delegates - and others - who will be in Denver this week.

Jyoti Friedland, Charlotte

It's Friedland's husband Marc who's the delegate. She'll be outside the convention hall demonstrating - for Hillary Clinton.

She's a member of Charlotte Front and Center, a group of Clinton die-hards that last month protested the visit of Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. They objected to what they say were his efforts to keep Clinton's name from being placed in nomination.

Friedland is a chef with a blog called “Jyoti's Political Cuisine.” She's planning to vote for Republican John McCain.

“If Hillary will not be nominated, I want to use my vote,” she says. “I'm not going to stay home.”

Lenny Julius, Emerald Isle

In 1967, Julius was a medical corpsman aboard the USS Oriskany when a fire forced the evacuation of another carrier, the USS Forrestal. One evacuee was a young naval pilot named John McCain.

A few weeks later, McCain was shot down over North Vietnam while flying off the Oriskany. Julius went on to a career as a naval officer. Now 67, he lives in Eastern North Carolina.

Opposition to the Iraq war is one reason he contributed to Barack Obama's campaign. This month, he found out his contribution won him a prize: a backstage pass to Obama's acceptance speech in Denver.

“I have nothing bad to say about McCain,” Julius says. “I see him as a genuine American hero. But I wasn't taken in by some of the reasons we went to war.”

Jared Hagemann, Camden

Hagemann is one of North Carolina's two 18-year-old delegates.

The son of a Navy commander, he lives with his parents and goes to community college in Elizabeth City. The thought of being one of the convention's youngest delegates doesn't intimidate him.

“I'm really excited,” he says. “If I did everything the same as everybody else, I wouldn't be who I am. I just wanted to show people I could represent my district and my generation.”

Tricia Cotham, Charlotte

Politics runs in the family for Cotham.

Her father was chairman of the Mecklenburg Democratic Party and her great-grandmother was one of few female delegates to the 1948 convention that nominated Harry Truman.

At 29, Cotham is the youngest member of the N.C. General Assembly and running for her second term in the state House. She was invited to be on a Democratic Youth Council panel this week. The topic: “Running as a Young Candidate.”

“We're really focusing on young people being involved in the electoral process,” she says. “I think young people are finally realizing they have a voice in politics, and they must use their voice.”

Tom Chorlton, Folly Beach

During the 1968 Democratic convention, Chorlton was one of thousands of peace protesters dodging police riot clubs in Chicago's Grant Park.

“There's a park bench that I probably owe my life to,” says Chorlton, who ducked behind one.

Now 62, he teaches political science as an adjunct professor at the College of Charleston. He's also one of two openly gay members of the S.C. Democratic delegation.

“I think what it really says is that the Democratic Party in South Carolina being true to the principles the Democratic Party stands for nationwide. The party is very inclusive. Everybody feels welcome. I hope it sets a growing trend for the state in general.”

Jim Clyburn, Columbia

He's a soft-spoken preacher's son who grew up in segregated Sumter, S.C. His first political act came in 1960, when he joined a sit-in at an Orangeburg drugstore. Later he faced the spray of fire hoses and jail time.

Now Clyburn, 68, is the third-ranking Democrat in the U.S. House and one of the Carolinas' highest-profile lawmakers. With a prime-time slot Wednesday, he's the only Carolinian scheduled to address the convention.

“I've said often that those of us who were active in the '50s and '60s … to see us about to hand the nomination of a major political party to an African American is all very, very emotional.”

John Forlines, Granite Falls

He may be 90, but Forlines isn't slowing down.

The retired chairman of the Bank of Granite is a delegate to his second Democratic convention. His first was four years ago.

“I'm glad to be a delegate,” he says.

He's also a candidate. Forlines is running for the N.C. House against a longtime Republican incumbent.

Forlines was to be one of the delegation's two 90-year-olds. Charlottean Pat Patton is staying home with her daughter, who had emergency heart surgery Tuesday.

Betsy Muse, Monroe

Embedded with the N.C. delegation will be a mother of two from Monroe. Her job: blogging.

Muse, 46, blogs for “BlueNC,” a site given to liberal causes. The daughter of Charlotte City Council member Patsy Kinsey, she has blogged for four years.

She's one of 500 bloggers credentialed to the convention, and the only one from North Carolina allowed to sit with delegates on the convention floor. She'll write about anything she thinks will interest her readers.

Says Muse: “I will give readers and viewers a way to experience the convention from the view of delegates.”

Carla Cunningham, Charlotte

Cunningham, 46, didn't get involved in politics until four years ago, when she canvassed Mecklenburg County for John Kerry.

A few months later, she married state Rep. Pete Cunningham. And the Charlotte mother - and grandmother - has been hooked ever since. This week she's a delegate to the Democratic convention.

“It's interesting to me,” she says. “Politics affects every day of your life. I think people don't realize how important it is.”

By the numbers

N.C. delegates

Women: 67

Men: 67

African American: 49

White: 79

Native American: 2

Asian American: 3

S.C. delegates

Women: 31

Men: 31

African American: 29

White: 32

Asian American: 1

The delegates on …

*Obama's chances to carry the state

N.C. delegates are bullish on Barack Obama's chances to carry their state, even though no Democratic presidential candidate has won it 1976.

More than half called Obama's chances “very good.” Most of the rest said they are good.

“Obama has really caught the imagination of millions of people, including thousands of people in our state,” says Raleigh lawyer Ed Turlington.

In South Carolina, which has only a single Democratic official elected statewide, delegates are more likely to describe Obama's chances as “slim.” One is state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter of Orangeburg.

“If there are enough new voters … and voters who simply look at the issues and answer the question, ‘Am I better off now than I was four years ago?' then he will have a good chance,” she says. “I just don't believe voters in South Carolina will answer that question honestly.”

*His top issue against John McCain

For most delegates, that's easy.

“The economy, and (John) McCain's lack of knowledge thereof,” says Bruce Lightener of Raleigh.

Delegates also cited change - particularly in America's foreign policy - ending the war in Iraq and solving the energy and health care problems.

Whether Clinton supporters will support Obama

Zack Wynne, a delegate from Boone, admits to being “a little nervous” about what fellow Clinton supporters might do.

But by more than 2-1, most delegates aren't worried about Clinton backers bolting the party.

“I am confident that most Americans understand the importance of this year's election,” says Donald Hughes, 20, from Greensboro. “We are a united party.”

*Obama's biggest vulnerability

Experience was cited by many delegates. Or, as some such as Tessie Taylor of Aberdeen say, Obama's “‘perceived' lack of foreign policy experience.”

U.S. Rep. Brad Miller of Raleigh was among those who say because Obama is still relatively unknown to many voters, he may be more subject to personal attacks.

“He is relatively new to national politics,” Miller says, “And many voters are trying to figure him out still, making him more vulnerable to personal attack.”

Based on survey responses returned from about half the Carolinas' nearly 200 delegates.