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"Have you heard about that old Confederate junk she's selling in them stores she owns?" one man asks.

"What junk?"

"Perdue's stores sells those hats with Rebel flags and that Confederate junk."

"Perdue sells Confederate stuff?"

"Yeah caps and beer holders that say 'Old times will not be forgotten.'"...

"And Perdue wants to be our governor?"

"Well maybe in 1958, but not in 2008."

Yesterday's Wright-ditching press conference was for Obama what the disastrous New Hampshire debate was for Bush 41. The occasion called for Obama to take control of the issue, however belatedly. He had to be in charge. He had to be authoritative.

Instead, voters got the same Obama who slouched through that infamous Pennsylvania debate in which those meanies Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos asked him questions that weren't to his liking. Once again, Obama seemed like a defeated man. Chuck Todd described him at yesterday's press conference as "somber." Obama referred to himself as "outraged," but nothing in his manner communicated "outrage." What he looked like was a man whose political future was in jeopardy, and yet still couldn't rally himself to show some passion.

"I'd be surprised, but things can happen any day. Never say never," Mrs. Edwards said from Orlando, FL where she is vacationing with her family. "My current information is not to say any more than I have said and John would have to speak for himself but as I said he's also on vacation."

"What we saw yesterday out of Rev. Wright is a resurfacing and an exploitation of those old division...It is antithetical to what I'm about...I want to be very clear that moving forward, Rev. Wright does not speak for me. He does not speak for my campaign...I cannot keep him from making these outrageous remarks...When I say I find these remarks appalling, it contradicts who I am and what I'm about...It's completely opposed to what I stand for and where I want to take this country..."

"People want some help in stabilizing their lives and securing a better future from themselves and their children and that's what we should be talking about. The fact that Rev. Wright thinks it was appropriate to command the stage for three or four days during this very important debate is something that makes me angry but also makes me saddened."

In a general election, the GOP’s goal will be to illustrate to voters that Obama really is hard left, using his associations with the likes of Wright and Bill Ayers and his policies to paint. The goal of the Democrats has to be to make voters see a clone of Bush in McCain by playing up their association and shared positions.

For a week now, McCain and Obama have been committing gaffes that, by turns, undercut their principal arguments against their opponents and give sanction to their opponents’ arguments against them. Up next: McCain’s ‘You Know, Come to Think of it, I am Kinda Old,’ Tour

“Contrary to any media reports, the ‘Extreme’ ad will run as scheduled next week.  There has never been any intention to pull the ad and it will air.  
 
The ‘Extreme’ ad has garnered attention around the country.  I want to thank the people across North Carolina and across the country who have shown overwhelming support for us.  Our aim is to tell the truth and ask difficult questions.  We will continue to do so.  
 
People here in North Carolina should know that this ad is focused on Democrats Richard Moore and Beverly Perdue.  By endorsing Barack Obama, they allied themselves with the most liberal person in the United States Senate.  He is a candidate out of touch with the voters of North Carolina who does not share the values of North Carolinians.  By refusing to stand up and rightfully denounce the statements made by his controversial former associates, Perdue and Moore are giving us the impression that they share these extreme views.  The voters of North Carolina should be allowed to ask a legitimate question of candidates in North Carolina.  Who do you choose to associate yourself with and how does that reflect on your judgment?  It is true that your character is proven by the company you keep.  Those who step forward to run for the highest post in North Carolina must show the best judgment.  Perdue and Moore have shown poor judgment in their associations and the voters of North Carolina rightly question their actions and their continued silence.
 
Democrats in North Carolina are trying to inject race into this ad.  This tactic, designed to further drive a wedge between the people of North Carolina, is despicable and wrong.  This ad has absolutely nothing to do with race.  It is completely factual and contains no information that has already received a public airing.  Let me be perfectly clear: It is entirely inappropriate for voters to consider race when judging the quality of a candidate running for any office.  If Senator Clinton had a pastor who made these same anti-American statements and the Democrat candidates for Governor endorsed her, we would be running the same ad.
 
Finally, I want to say that the North Carolina Republican Party has had and will continue to have a great working relationship with the RNC.  We are entirely in support of John McCain for President.  I have great respect and admiration for Senator McCain.  He will be a great President when he is elected in November.  As State Party Chairman, I serve in a dual role.  Not only do I support our party’s candidate for President of the United States, I also have a duty to see that Republicans are elected across the state of North Carolina. This ad opposes two Democrat candidates for Governor in North Carolina.  It poses a legitimate question about judgment for which the people of North Carolina deserve an answer.”