Could North Carolina Go Blue in 2008?

The Democrats are spending a lot of time in North Carolina. Vice presidential candidate Joe Biden came to Charlotte last Sunday. Michelle Obama came Thursday. Now, presidential candidate Barack Obama has scheduled a rally for Sunday.

Democratic supporters seem to think the state, which typically votes Republican for president, could go "blue" this time. So do Obama-Biden supporters.

"Charlotte's turning blue. I have every confidence. Yes," Obama supporter Shirley Toney said.

But the Republicans don't seem to feel threatened. Obama has 375 paid staffers in the state. Republican presidential candidate John McCain only has 30. McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, are campaigning elsewhere, leaving North Carolina to their supporters.

So which side is right?

We asked former U.S. Ambassador Mark Erwin. He lives in Charlotte. He supported Sen. Hillary Clinton in the primary and, now, he supports McCain.

He thinks Republicans are right-- that the state is not close. He just thinks Obama's campaign has so much money; it doesn't have to choose its battles as carefully.

"I think if they were on equal footing financially, this would not be a state they'd be pouring that much money into," Erwin said.

But more Democrats are registering to vote. Of Mecklenburg County's new voters, Democrats outnumber Republicans 3-to-1.