Planners for the April 26 visit of Barack Obama to Catawba County are expecting a huge response from people who have been following the presidential races. Obama will meet local political activists at the home of Bob and Rae McKinnon in the Knolls residential area in Newton. Tickets are $250 each and will be issued on a first-come-first-accepted basis, according to Ann Gaither who is helping promote the visit. Sponsors at $500 each are assured of a ticket.
OBAMA HEADQUARTERS IN HICKORY: Obama’s western North Carolina headquarters is being set up in the Cline Building in downtown Hickory. Paint, carpeting and supplies have been donated, according to sources. Six fulltime people will work out of the office. They will be laying the groundwork for a grassroots campaign leading to the May 6 North Carolina primary. In a county that is dominated by very conservative Republicans, the choice of Hickory as a site for Obama offices is even more interesting.
HOW STATE SHAPES UP: A Raleigh News and Observer poll predicts that voters in the 3rd, 5th, 10th and 11th Congressional districts will favor Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. Obama is favored to capture majorities in the 1st, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 12th districts. The 2nd District is a toss-up.
Obama does best in urban areas with educated voters and in rural counties with large minority populations.
HAGAN VISITS: N.C. Sen. Kay Hagan was in Hickory Wednesday to promote her campaign to unseat U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole. Hagan is the niece of the late Lawton Childs who died while serving as governor of Florida. She is a friend of Landon and Nila Lane of Hickory.
Hagan is favored to win her primary which includes investor Jim Neal of Chapel Hill. She is the underdog in the race against Dole who was ranked 93rd in the U.S. Senate. Sen. Richard Burr was ranked as 67th. Hagan has served as chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee in the N.C. Senate.
STILL KICKING: Despite a dearth of candidates for local offices, Democrats in Catawba County still remain determined. More than 30 precincts were organized in one night earlier this month. County party leaders say others have scheduled organizational meetings. Democrats are encouraged by the response of Independents and Republicans to the campaign of Daniel Johnson who is seeking the 10th District congressional seat. A series of fund-raising parties in Hickory last week attracted people of all political identities.
