While the two Democratic contenders for president are currently focusing on Pennsylvania, where 188 delegates will be decided by an April 22 primary, after that North Carolina's May 6 primary will be the next major battlefield.

Clinton's press office announced Tuesday that she will make her first N.C. campaign stops Thursday in Raleigh, Fayetteville and Winston-Salem. All three events are open to the public.

The closest stop to Wilson will be at Wake Technical Community College, south of Raleigh on U.S. 421. The doors will open at 9 a.m. with the event scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m.

Meanwhile, Obama is scheduled this afternoon to hold a town hall meeting in Greensboro. Last week he visited Fayetteville and Charlotte.

North Carolinians can expect to see plenty of both candidates leading up to the Democratic primary. North Carolina has 134 delegates, making it easily the richest target left, outside of Pennsylvania.

The Democratic Party will allocate 115 of those delegates based on the primary vote. For example, a candidate who receives 55 percent of the vote would get 63 delegates at the Democratic National Convention this summer.

The state also will send 19 super delegates to the Democratic convention, and how they decide to vote could easily play a role in helping one of the candidates win the nomination.

In North Carolina, they include Gov. Mike Easley; the seven N.C. Democrats in the U.S. House; nine members of the Democratic National Committee; and two people to be chosen at the state Democratic convention in June.

Obama has the early lead, 3-1, among these delegates who have sided with a candidate. One of those is Wilson's U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield who endorsed the Illinois senator in February.

"He understands working people. Obama can positively change our image around the world," Butterfield told the Daily Times at the time he endorsed the senator.

Ken Willis, Butterfield's communications director, said Tuesday that he believes the congressman plans to stick by Obama.

"As a super delegate, you can change your mind up until the point you cast your ballot. ... But he has pledged to support Obama," Willis said.

The other local super delegate, U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, "has not endorsed anyone and he doesn't plan right now to endorse anyone," said his communications director, Joanne Peters, Tuesday.

Etheridge's 2nd District includes Johnston County.

The other Obama supporters include national committee members Dannie Montgomery of Lilesville and Everett Ward of Wake County. Clinton's supporter is national committee member Susan Burgess of Charlotte.

The other super delegates are U.S. Reps. Mike McIntyre, Brad Miller, David Price, Heath Shuler and Melvin Watt; and national committee members Jerry Meek of Fayetteville, Muriel K. Offerman of Cary, Jeanette Council of Fayetteville, David Parker of Statesville and Carol W. Peterson of Asheville and Joyce Brayboy of Charlotte.

mshaw@wilsontimes.com | 265-7878