news-record.com

EDEN - Paula Hampton skipped breakfast and called in late to work Wednesday morning. She even let her 12-year-old son Chris put off mowing the grass.

Instead of doing work and chores, Paula Hampton grabbed her son and their camera, headed to Big Lots to buy batteries and claimed their spot along N.C. 14.

Barack Obama was coming to town.

"This is an emergency," Hampton said. "I'm so excited I can't hardly stand it! Whew!"

Obama was not scheduled for a visit in Eden but did ride through on his way to Martinsville, Va. Police and emergency personnel lined N.C. 14 and scanner traffic tracked Obama's steps through the county.

With each passing, official-looking vehicle, Hampton's enthusiasm grew.

The reason for her excitement was simple, Hampton said: "The first African American man to ever get this far (in a presidential election), that makes me so excited," she said.

Hampton periodically stepped into the roadway against the caution of her son.

"Oh my God!" she said upon seeing an SUV she thought might be carrying Obama. But it was only a Rockingham County sheriff's vehicle.

In between vehicles, there were prayers.

"Lord, please let this camera work right," Hampton said.

Finally, the motorcade passed. A couple of dark buses and more official-looking vehicles.
And then he was gone.

Hampton left her roadside post a little disappointed. She thought Obama would at least stick his head out the window.