Democrats pledge unity

"We've never had activity like we have now," he said. "I think we're going to break all records for the state."

Polls have shown Obama's once-overwhelming lead in North Carolina shrinking to single digits in recent weeks.

During that time, he lost decisively to Clinton in the hard-fought Pennsylvania primary. The Illinois senator also was forced to renounce ties to his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., after previously resisting pressure to break with him.

"We've had a rough couple of weeks, I won't deny that," Obama told a news conference in Indianapolis earlier Friday. Voters, he acknowledged, were "upset by very offensive language by my former pastor."

By all accounts, Clinton also has been helped here by her husband, who has campaigned as surrogate in chief. The former president has visited more than 50 small and medium-size North Carolina towns in recent weeks, wolfing down barbecue, shaking countless hands, hugging friends and largely avoiding the spotlight.

"He's going to these little places, giving great speeches, going until 11 at night," said Jim Hunt, a former four-term governor who has not made an endorsement. "He's helped her tremendously."

Earlier in the day, the two candidates sparred over a proposed summer suspension of the federal gasoline tax. Clinton, who supports the proposal, called for Congress to vote on it. Obama dismissed the idea as a political stunt that would cost thousands of jobs while doing little for consumers.

Separately, Clinton appeared to pick up two more delegates from the April 22 Pennsylvania primary.

An Associated Press analysis of newly released voting results showed Clinton increasing her total from the contest to 85 delegates, versus 73 for Obama.

The results also showed Clinton winning 54.6% of the Pennsylvania vote, to 45.4% for Obama.

According to the AP, Obama still leads in overall delegates, 1,736.5 to Clinton's 1,605.5.

--

bob.drogin@latimes.com