In the latest SUSA NC poll, Obama's lead is down to 5 (More on the flip on the SUSA poll. In the latest Ras NC poll, Barack Obama maintains a healthy lead, though down from his previous 23 point margin. The demographics are the political destiny again:

The demographic results in North Carolina are similar to the dynamics seen nationally and in most primaries—Clinton leads by fifteen points among White voters while Obama leads 80% to 11% among African-Americans. Clinton does well among White Women and older voters while Obama leads among those under 65.

We can figure out the crosstabs based on Ras' turnout model:

As reported yesterday, North Carolina Governor Mike Easley today endorsed Hillary Clinton.

"It's time for somebody to be in the White House who understands the challenges we face in this country," Easley said, adding a gentle dig at rival Barack Obama's signature slogan of hope.

"There's been lots of 'Yes we can, yes we should.' Hillary Clinton is ready to deliver," Easley said.

Hillary, who praises Easley's economic record in the state, added:

"The governor and I have something in common — we think results matter," Clinton said.

Easley ended his remarks saying Hillary "makes Rocky Balboa look like a pansy".

Easley is Clinton's second N.C. superdelegate. Six other N.C. superdelegates support Obama.

The Wall St. Journal today (free link) examines the current preferences of the 795 superdelegates:

Obama leads among those who are elected officals (governors and senators) while Hillary leads among the non-elected state and party officials. 300 or so superdelegates remain uncommitted.

The superdelegates in these two groups have different predominant concerns. For those who are elected officials, the dominant concern is their own political future. For those who are non-elected, the key factor is electability of the Democratic candidate in November.

By the numbers:

Elected superdelegates include 28 governors, 234 House members, 49 senators, mayors of big cities and state officeholders

Non-elected superdelegates: More than 400.

A graphic showing the current status of superdelegates is here.

As eriposte predicted, rabid Obama supporters are forwarding the idea that Clinton made Wright do it.

Some people have totally lost it this campaign season.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

I have found the only other person (besides Mario Cuomo) in America who agrees with me that Dems need a Unity Ticket, Dewayne Wickham of USA Today:

If Democrats are going to win the White House in November, they need a shotgun wedding in June. This is not something that either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton wants to hear, nor is it anything party leaders have been willing to say — at least not publicly. But without both Clinton and Obama on the same ticket, Democrats stand a good chance of suffering a humiliating defeat in the general election. MORE . . .

The New York Times reports on Reverand Jeremiah Wright's monomania.

Now it turns out that Mr. Wright doesn’t hate America, he loves the sound of his own voice. He is not out of touch with the American culture, he is the avatar of the American celebrity principle: he grabbed his 30-second spots of infamy and turned them into 15 minutes of fame.

.... Chuck Todd, the NBC political director... summed up Mr. Wright’s apologia by paraphrasing a Carly Simon song: “You’re so vain, I bet you think this campaign is about you.”

David Axelrod: "“He is doing his own thing,” Mr. Axelrod said wearily by telephone. “There’s not a thing we can do about it.”

Another blast from the past: This February, 2007 Rolling Stone article about Obama and Rev. Wright.

This is an open thread.

Barack Obama is not just lagging among blue collar voters, he's got a big age problem to overcome and his popularity with younger voters isn't enough compensation:

In the Pennsylvania and Ohio primaries, Obama lost older whites by 30 percentage points, while Clinton split white voters under age 30 in both critical contests. Obama’s senior problem is even greater among Hispanics. The Illinois senator lost older Latinos by 40 to 60 percentage points in Texas, New Mexico and California.

....Older, college-educated voters consistently favor Clinton, though by small margins. Obama’s weakness is largely among seniors without college degrees, whom Clinton wins 3-to-1.

More...

Karl Rove, writing in Newsweek, says Obama needs to recover from his recent fumbles. He offers six tips:

• Get a new stump speech, the message in his current one has become old and tired.
• When you're on the defense, as with Rev. Wright, choose one explanation and stick to it.
• Get back to the Senate and do some work there. His legislative record is thin and needs bolstering. He says, pick an issue and own it.
• Get back to the Senate, part II: Also, he hasn't shown he has the unifying ability he claims in his red states, blue states unity pitch. He should introduce bipartisan bills that Republicans can get behind. Also, name some specific Republicans he'd put in his Administration.

[More...]

Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have responded to today's Supreme Court ruling in Crawford v. Marion County Election Bd., upholding the Indiana voter id law:

Obama:

"I disagree with the decision, but we're going to do everything we can in our campaign — I trust that not only the Democratic party but fair-minded Republicans are going to do whatever they can — so that people at the state level can exercise the franchise."

Hillary:

"I have questions about it. Now obviously the law's the law, and has to be followed, but I hope it doesn't in any way suppress or deter voter turnout."

The Brennan Center, which coordinated the amicus briefs, calls the case the most important voting case since Bush v. Gore.

[More...]

The Supreme Court today granted cert in a 10th Circuit sentencing guideline case. (Order here, pdf). The case is U.S. v. Garcia-Lara, 499 F.3d 1133 (10th Cir. 2007). It was a terrible decision that held district courts have to find something unusual about the defendant or his case in order to vary from the Guidelines. It's a meth case where the trial court departed below the guidelines to impose 140 months and the 10th Circuit reversed. (See below the fold for facts.)

Not only did the Supreme Court today accept cert on the case, it vacated the opinion and remanded the case for further proceedings in light of Gall v. U.S. The Supreme Court case number is 07-9799.

[Hat tip to the Colorado Federal Defender's office for the information.]

Barack Obama, who has not been known for accessibility to the press the last few weeks (see the waffle story) called a "hastily arranged press conference" today to again disassociate himself from Rev. Wright, including his most recent remarks. The press conference lasted six minutes on the airport tarmac and he took three questions.

"Some of the comments that Rev. Wright has made offend me, and I understand why they offend the American people. He does not speak for me. He does not speak for the campaign," Obama said.

"Many of the statements that he's made, both that triggered this initial controversy and that he's made over the last several days, are not statements that I have heard him make previously. They don't represent my views," the senator added.

He asked that he be judged by his "20 years of service" and the values he's espoused more than by his past associations. More...

As Big Tent Democrat wrote earlier, the Governor of North Carolina has endorsed Hillary Clinton. What about the Edwards?

It's clear Elizabeth Edwards favors Hillary's health care plan. The New York Times examines the possibilities today. I think the fair conclusion from this statement is there will be no endorsement before May 6.

This week, the family planned to decamp for Disney World, away from the campaign events grabbing headlines throughout the state.

[The song is Dizz Knee Land by Dada]

I just flipped off President George
I'm going to Dizz Knee Land