Electors cast N.C.'s official votes for Obama

RALEIGH, N.C. — Members of the North Carolina electoral college met Monday to cast their ballots for the president and vice president.

Secretary of State Elaine Marshall convened the 55th meeting of the electoral college in the Capitol's Old Hall of the House of Representatives in Raleigh for the ceremonial procedure to make November's popular vote official. North Carolina's 15 electors joined another 523 electoral voters nationwide to formally elect Barack Obama as president and Joe Biden as vice president.

The election determined that electoral voters nominated by the state Democratic Party would cast the official ballots for the state. It was the first time in 32 years that the Democrats cast the electoral votes since Obama was the first Democrat since Jimmy Carter in 1976 to carry the state.

"It was really the fulfillment of a dream," said Cary native Linda Gunter, who presided over the ceremony as president of the North Carolina Electoral College.

"Every four years, we worked so hard. This year, it all came together. I think it was the belief in Barack Obama that we could turn this state," Gunter said.

Kara Hollingsworth, 29, of Fayetteville, wasn't even born the last time a Democrat carried the state. She gave one of two nominating speeches for Obama Monday.

"New voters did make the difference," Hollingsworth said. "A candidate like Barack Obama is someone that brings so many young people back into politics."

Janice McKenzie Cole, who also gave a nominating speech for Obama, said the president-elect's inspirational message goes far beyond politics.

"To every child, every young person, this represents that anything is possible because of what we've seen Obama accomplish," Cole said.

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Latest Comments

"Bush was elected for his ability, Obama was elcted out of stupidity."

And you call ME ignorant... what a hoot!

Sir Freezy McQuackers
December 16, 2008 9:44 a.m.

The Electoral College was established because the Founding Fathers feared that the illiterate masses might vote for someone with charm, but no substance. The chosen electors, presumably educated and wealthy, would then be in a position to choose another for President using logic and reason. Remember that democracy was a brand new thing in 1788 and no one was sure what would happen. The EC was a safety valve.

Is it needed today? Probably not, but I still fear the illiterate masses who vote for charm over substance, sound bites over a solid platform, and just forget to think when they cast their vote. Of course we really haven't had anyone good running for President in quite a long while - mediocrity at it's best.

SaveEnergyMan
December 16, 2008 9:15 a.m.

" It took Reagan 8 years to undo the mess that Jimmy Carter left us with."

What?? reagan gave us the largest national debt in history - that is, until bush came along.

Nope
December 16, 2008 8:19 a.m.

Thanks to George W. Bush, Jimmie Carter is no longer the worst President in US history. Yay!!!

Quayle/Palin '12!!!!!

geosol
December 15, 2008 8:07 p.m.

WHOAAA Nelly!! It ain't over til the Shrew from CA Sings..

In an obvious display of either ignorance --or dare I say it -- over-zealous partisanship, the N&O/WRAL are WRONG again. The votes of the "electoral college" must be certified by the Speaker (enter the shrew) of the House on January 6th in the US Congress before the election is "official."

Of course no one said you ever let a little thing like the Constitution get in the way of what you want!

clarkthain
December 15, 2008 7:02 p.m.