Obama the 'Unofficial' Winner in N. Carolina

In North Carolina, they're calling Barack Obama the "unofficial" victor, the News & Observer reports, after the state elections director said late yesterday that provisional ballots not yet counted are unlikely to overturn the president-elect's lead. Obama leads John McCain by 13,746 votes, with 40,000 uncounted, but Gary Bartlett says experience tells him there won't be an upset.

Meanwhile Tar Heels are pondering the profound transformation the strong Obama showing reflects in their state, a former staunch champion of segregation with a turbulent race history. With millions of new residents from all over the nation, North Carolina has become one of the most moderate Southern states. Even if it was the economy that swayed voters toward Obama, “the most significant thing” is that North Carolina can and "will vote for a minority,” says the state’s first black lawmaker.
(More Barack Obama stories.)