So, I was one of the journalists taken along on the bus ride to see Sen. Obama play hoops with the Tar Heels.

We had to meet in Chapel Hill by 6 a.m. By 6:45 we were security swept and put on a bus to the Dean Dome. Once inside the players started flowing in about 7:05 and Sen. Obama followed with Coach Williams.

It was interesting to watch the players as much as Sen. Obama. They were very relaxed and for the most part did not see overly star-struck by any means. Granted, 3-4 of them will be NBA players so maybe that means nothing but you have to remember no matter how big and old some may look they are 18-21 years old only.

One by one they came over and shook his hand individually. Ty Lawson really seemed to get the biggest kick out of it.

Obama eventually got a pretty decent shot off just out of the reach of Hansbrough but missed and as Hansbrough dribbled up court he had a smile on his face, as did Obama.

The players played like it was any other scrimmage though and it was clear that Obama was tired as he took himself out of the game.

Tim Boyum, News 14 Carolina

Clinton airs negative ad

Hillary Clinton is running a negative ad in North Carolina.

The ad, titled "Trouble," began running in the state last night. It criticizes Barack Obama over the nation's housing crisis and the high price of gasoline. The ad says that Obama opposed a freeze on home foreclosures and opposes suspending the gas tax this summer. The ad is also running in Indiana.

It is the first negative TV ad by either candidate in North Carolina.

James Romoser, Winston-Salem Journal

http://www.journalnow.net/index.php/trailmix/

It's all about race

Like it or not, it all comes down to race. Just like it has in North Carolina politics since the 1950 Smith-Graham Senate race. Or the white-supremacy campaigns at the turn of the (last) century. Or the Civil War. Or maybe Colonial days. It never ends.

Obama often has seemed oddly passive in this campaign. But then he rises to the moment.

If nothing else, you have to admire the man for -- in one morning -- going full court with the UNC basketball team and then giving a performance that could decide his political future.

Easley's performance -- judging from the news clips -- was uncharacteristically energized. Or should I say manic? MSNBC made much of his odd remark that Clinton makes Rocky Balboa look like a "pansy."

Governor Hunt's comments were the buzz in Raleigh Tuesday. But I didn't see them in the N&O. That's the only good thing for Moore, because having a still-popular four-time governor -- who now has lived long enough to achieve statesman status -- condemn you for crossing the line with an ad about race could be fatal.

Gary Pierce

http://www.talkingaboutpolitics.com/

Good timing for Clinton

If you're surprised by Easley's move [endorsing Hillary Clinton], you shouldn't be. If his February pronoun slip wasn't a big enough hint about where his sympathies lay, his "NASCAR Dad" profile should've nailed it. He's a textbook Clinton voter.

But I don't agree with today's Jones Street rumor that Easley's angling for a VP slot. It wouldn't make any sense: He wouldn't bring anyone to the ticket she doesn't already have. (On the other hand, there's always a chance at a cabinet spot -- like, say, Education maybe?)

Still, the timing couldn't have been better, or less coincidental, I'd bet. New PPP tracking numbers out today show HRC making some headway in N.C. last week, which means it's the ideal time to play a trump if she's holding one.

Laura Leslie, WUNC Radio

http://wunc.org/news/Isaac-Hunters-Tavern

BLOGOSPHERE IS A WEEKLY COMPILATION OF EXCERPTS FROM N.C. WEB LOGS.