"The race is tightening, no question about it," said Hunter Bacot, a poll director at Elon University, near Greensboro. "Considering what's happening with Rev. Wright, her recent victory in Pennsylvania and her courting of the white, blue-collar vote, [she's] really picking up steam."
Thad Beyle, a political science professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, agreed.
"Things are moving in her direction. And she's campaigning in places Democrats don't usually go. I got a call the other day from Haywood County in the mountains out west. It's real Republican country." The reporter couldn't figure out why Clinton was there, Beyle said.
Jim Hunt, a Democrat who served four nonconsecutive terms as governor and who has not endorsed anyone, said he didn't expect an upset. But he said he was surprised to see "limited-income whites" flood his polling place Friday in Wilson, in the eastern part of the state.
"A whole lot more white voters are coming out, at least in my district," he said. Clinton "has energized a lot of people to vote who would not otherwise vote."
Many here attribute that to her husband, former President Clinton, who has campaigned vigorously among rural and working families, especially in old mill towns yet to benefit from the new economy. He barnstormed nearly 50 towns and hamlets during the last month, and was scheduled to return for more today.
"Here he is, going from Apex to Fuquay-Varina to Dunn, spending hours at time, day after day, drumming up votes for his wife," marveled Ferrell Guillory, director of a public policy institute at UNC-Chapel Hill. "It's not just one speech a day. It's five or six. Can you imagine Ronald Reagan stumping for votes like that?"
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bob.drogin@latimes.com
