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RALEIGH — Rock music introduced the rock stars of the 2008 Democratic Party at the J.S. Dorton Arena on Friday night.


View photos of Clinton's visit to Guilford College


Sen. Hillary Clinton entered to John Mellencamp's "Our Country." Sen. Barack Obama entered to Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising."

And like both anthems, the two presidential candidates tuned their speeches to be upbeat affairs — pledging unity and giving nods to North Carolina issues and officials.

"And we are here for one reason — to make sure that next president is a Democrat," Clinton said. "I will tell you this, if Senator Obama is the nominee, I will work my heart out for him."

That line prompted cheers of "O-BAM-A" from the crowd, which appeared to heavily favor the Illinois senator and roared when he took the stage 70 minutes later. Audience members roared and came to their feet several times during his speech. Although Clinton got applause, it was not as robust.

"Let me say this: We are going to be united in the fall," Obama said. "If Hillary Clinton is the nominee, I will support her in a heartbeat. ... Our differences pale in comparison with our differences with the other party."

The Democratic State Party's annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner typically attracts 400 to 500 party supporters. This year, the party sold 5,200 tickets to the arena on the State Fairgrounds.

Both candidates made it a point to thank former N.C. Sen. John Edwards, who was at one time a competitor for the presidential nomination and still a potentially crucial figure in the nomination fight. Edwards was not in attendance Friday night.

"His courageous fight to end poverty is a fight I will see to the finish," Clinton said, adding that she would appoint a cabinet-level post on that issue.

Both Obama and Clinton reportedly gave assurances to Edwards that if elected, they would take up his anti-poverty agenda.

"I want to say a special thanks to John and Elizabeth Edwards," Obama said, adding Edwards made "sure we focused attention on not just the haves, not just the have-littles, but the have-nots. I look forward to working with them in the next administration."

Earlier Friday, Clinton gave a speech at Guilford College in Greensboro. Her talk touched on many of her regular themes, including making college affordable, improving health care and pulling soldiers from Iraq.

It wasn't until after hearing Clinton that Greensboro resident Amanda May decided which candidate she favored. Outside the field house doors, she bought three pins featuring Clinton's face for $10.

"More of my friends are going toward Obama because he's young and fresh," said May, an Alzheimer's program coordinator. "I enjoyed what she had to say about gas, that's a big issue. And she seemed very strong about what her thoughts were."

For the evening event in Raleigh, both presidential campaigns bought blocks of 1,000 tickets to the event, creating two boisterous sections inside the arena. As the time for speeches from the candidates got closer, the two groups traded chants and waved signs.

Randy Inscoe of Durham was seated in the stands by

6 p.m., a denim vest draped over his knees with the words "Bikers for Obama" painted in fluorescent orange.

"I try to wear it whenever I ride," Inscoe said. There's no official organization, he said, but he's trying to start one.

It is Obama's position on the war that won him over.

"I've got three sons old enough to be drafted, and I want us to stop going and fighting in countries where we ought not to be," Inscoe said.

In the next section over, William Woody of Greensboro shouted criticism at the Obama supporters as they chanted their candidate's name.

"Until South Carolina, it could have gone either way with me. But then, in my opinion, Obama played the race card and then there's all this stuff with Rev. (Jeremiah) Wright," Woody said, referring to Obama's former preacher who has been widely criticized for some of his more caustic sermons that criticize America.

"There's no way as a white man, as a openly gay man, that I'm going to vote for somebody who has 20 years of hearing criticism of whites or somebody who supports someone who says 'God Damn America,''' Woody said. "He's offering speeches; she's offering a chance for a change."

Supporters of both were equally passionate and expressed skepticism that they could vote for the other if their candidate lost in the primary.

"I got to think that's just passion speaking," N.C. Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Meek said before the candidates arrived.

He called a McCain presidency "dangerous" and said most Democrats would unite rather than watch Republicans keep the White House.

Obama and Clinton mostly avoided direct attacks on one another, except when it came to their continuing debate over a proposed gas tax holiday.

Clinton favors suspending the 18.5 cent per gallon tax for three months in order to give drivers lower gas prices. Obama argues that it would provide little relief while causing problems for federal road building programs. He accused Clinton of siding with presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, who also favors the gas tax holiday.

The presidential contest has not been the only hard-fought contest in the state. Chapel Hill investment adviser Jim Neal and State Sen. Kay Hagan of Greensboro are the two leading contenders to take on U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole this fall.

"People tell me everywhere I go they don't believe the political system is working for them. ... They want change and they're right," Neal said, prompting cheers.

For her part, Hagan seeded the crowd with red, sparkling shoes.

"I want to give Miss Liddy Dole a pair of ruby-red slippers, and let her click her heels three times, and go home to Kansas with Bob (Dole)," Hagan said, as supporters waved the shoes in the air.

Hagan used much of her speech to rip Dole's record and performance.

"I'm running against Senator Where?" Hagan said, accusing Dole of being an absentee representative.


Staff writer Gerald Witt contributed to this report.

Contact Mark Binker at (919) 832-5549 or mark.binker@news-record.com