Barack Obama at his rally in Raleigh on Wednesday afternoon. BROOKE WOLFE/Sanford Herald

I am in my first week at The Sanford Herald and my second assignment today was to cover Barack Obama’s political rally in Raleigh. This was the second time I’ve seen him at a rally. The first was during the primary election season when he made a stop at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill.

At my summer internship with wire service Reuters this summer, I also got assigned the task one Sunday of following him around in Chicago in a press “pool” van. (Trust me, it’s not as glamorous as it sounds; we followed him around in a van as he got a haircut, went to the gym and attended a family bbq–but didn’t get to actually meet him).

His speech centered on the economic differences between him and Republican Sen. John McCain (read his prepared remarks here). I haven’t had a chance to see McCain in person, so I can’t speak for his live delivery. I would say Obama is usually as eloquent as he’s billed, at least he’s comparable to President Bill Clinton, who I’ve heard speak twice.

Obama supporters on the Halifax Mall lawn in downtown Raleigh

The thing I was struck by from talking to different people at the rally was the similarity in their concerns about our country. Almost everyone cited the same things: health care, taxes and the economy, with a few people also listing the Iraq War and national defense as concerns.

The other remarkable thing to me is how North Carolina is still a battleground in this election. McCain appeared in Fayettville on Tuesday to campaign–he should not even have to be here, but changing demographics have helped push the state into uncertain political waters.

Here are some thoughts from other people I spoke to at the rally that didn’t make it into my story in Thursday’s paper:

• Tina Sisley, a Smithfield resident in her mid 60s, said she likes Obama because he represents change. “A change will come. It’s gonna take time; it won’t be overnight.” She said she attended the rally because she figured it would be her last chance to see Obama before the Nov. 4 election. “I just wanted to be a part of this great moment in history,” she said.
• Carol Engrahm, of Cary, said she was a supporter of Obama’s health care and tax proposals. “I like his inspiration and the fact that he has a substance in his message of change.”
• Yvonne Addison, 44, of Raleigh, said she was attending her second Obama rally. She said Obama’s economic plan was her biggest draw, particularly with his plans for tax breaks for the middle class.

Also, don’t forget that you can early vote until Saturday. Lee County has four locations where you can go.