My friend Bruce Thompson – a Raleigh lawyer and leading Clinton adviser here – thinks I’m reading the primary all wrong. (I predicted an Obama blowout.)

Bruce believes Hillary Clinton will win here.

He points to the crowds that came to Bill Clinton’s trip Down East last weekend – Bubba’s BBQ Tour.

He told me: “If voters take the time to listen to what Hillary Clinton will do for them as President and contrast that to what Senator Obama is saying about the people of our state, she will win the North Carolina primary.”

Bruce is referring to Obama’s remarks in San Francisco about why “bitter” rural voters don’t support him.

The Clinton campaign promptly printed up “I’m Not Bitter” stickers for Bubba’s tour. They think Obama’s remark – especially about people “clinging” to their guns and religious faith – sounded elitist, like he looks down on average Americans,

I’m not convinced North Carolina will be close, but I’m always happy to have somebody tell me I’m wrong.

Click Here to discuss and comment on this and other articles.