WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama has won North Carolina, adding 15 electoral votes to his wide victory margin and a symbolic triumph in a state that hadn't voted for a Democrat for president in more than a generation.
The Associated Press declared Obama the winner Thursday after canvassing counties in North Carolina to determine the number of outstanding provisional ballots.
That survey found there are not enough remaining ballots for Republican candidate John McCain to close a 13,693-vote deficit.
Johnnie McClain of the State Board of Elections said the board doesn't have a total number of provisional ballots, but officials estimate it will be around 40,000.
Provisional ballots will be counted by individual counties in the coming days, and the state board will certify state totals on Nov. 25, McClain said.
If Obama wins North Carolina, the state's 15 electoral votes would bring his total to 364 – nearly 100 more than necessary to win the White House. Missouri is the only other state that remains too close to call.
The win in North Carolina would be the first for a Democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter won the state in 1976.
Meanwhile Thursday, Democratic officials said U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel agreed to be Obama's White House chief of staff.
Emanuel, a Democrat from Illinois who serves in the House Democratic leadership, served as a political and policy aide in the Clinton White House. His selection is a shift in tone for Obama, who chose more low-key leadership for his first presidential campaign.
Obama advisers said he was selecting the leaders of the new government with a priority on care over speed, with no plans to announce Cabinet positions this week.
Other White House officials were being lined up, including Robert Gibbs as the likely pick for press secretary, several Obama aides said. Gibbs, who attended North Carolina State University and whose parents live in Apex, has been Obama's longtime spokesman and confidant and was at Obama's side from his 2004 Senate campaign through the long days on the presidential campaign trail.
Obama plans his first public appearance since his presidential victory for Friday – a meeting with economic advisers to discuss the nation's financial woes that Americans listed as their top concern on Election Day.
Obama plans to talk to the news media Friday afternoon following the meeting, aides said. He and his wife, Michelle, will visit the White House on Monday at President Bush's invitation, aides said.




![[VIDEO]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/5oys/2012/02/09/10711013/250051-monica-80x60.jpg)
![[VIDEO]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/news/local/2008/04/29/2809430/11231-trooper-80x60.jpg)
![http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/news/local/2008/04/28/2806147/jones-80x60.jpg [VIDEO]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/presentation/v2/images/1x1.gif)



WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.
This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
November 7, 2008 8:12 p.m.
Ya know... I kinda like it here, so I think I will stay...
November 7, 2008 1:56 p.m.
I do not like the result of this election any more than many of you. North Carolina made some very "shallow" choices-Bev, Kay,-to name 2. The Presidential vote was irrelevant because the election was done by then. Obama is still our President as well-even if we voted for John McCain. WE must do all in our power to make the government work. Do we need to try and block poor legislation, yes? Do we need to support our troops overseas-absolutely? Do we need to be vigilant in watching the policies Pres. Obama proposes? ABSOLUTELY.
Remember, HE IS THE PRESIDENT. He gets the same respect President Bush gets. If we do our job, a Republican will be back in the White House in 4 years. Let's get to work.
November 7, 2008 9:08 a.m.
November 7, 2008 9:04 a.m.
November 7, 2008 7:19 a.m.