news-record.com

Maybe President Barack Obama was in Raleigh, but if you were 13 and younger, you knew where the real action was Wednesday afternoon.

All you had to do was follow the piercing screams to the front of the line at the Friendly Center and it was DEMI LOVATO.

In person. The star of Disney Channel’s “Camp Rock” and “Sonny With a Chance,” just hours before taking the stage at the Greensboro Coliseum, stopped at the AT&T store to give away publicity stills and sign autographs.

This was Megan Lucas’ lucky day, having no idea the singer was making an appearance. She got in line, while her mother, Gina, ducked into the drugstore and bought a Tiger Beat for Demi to autograph.

Did they know that in addition to Demi, who is touring with “Here We Go Again,” a CD that shows a new “mature” side, the leader of the free world also was in North Carolina?

“We would probably have chosen to come see Demi Lovato anyway,” Megan’s mother confessed. “You never know how long she’s going to be popular.”

For the moment, Demi is incredibly huge. To most people.

“Demi who? What’s he doing? Is he performing?” asked Pat Jones, who stopped by the lengthening line at 2 p.m. after leaving Gate City Pharmacy.

“I’m 85. I don’t know these names. I used to like Perry Como. And Frank Sinatra. But I didn’t approve of his lifestyle.”