Saturday, January 19, 2008...Currituck County...Raining harder than this morning. Temp still above 40. Hope remains. While at Camden this morning the basketball teams gathered to board their buses to Currituck. The big games between JV and Varsity teams were in progress when we arrived to a very full parking lot at Currituck High School. Fred was next door at the county library meeting with commissioners and a group of business leaders. We set up in the elegant dual purpose room - cafeteria by day and theatrical performance hall for 450 when needed. Three guests surprised us at 4:30 looking for Fred. After introductions, we learned they are committed Fred supporters from Dare County and we directed them to the library. As BBQ time arrived, basketball fans were leaving. We confirmed their lack of excitement meant victory went to Camden High School. Happily, Fred's guests were more excited than the defeated Currituck Knights and thank goodness. People came with their books for Fred to sign and he challenged them to GOTV - get out the vote. (Oh, TV - let me digress - have you seen Fred's campaign ads on FOX? Joe saw it twice while we were in Williamston last night.) Weather clearly deterred some people from attending, however, at the end of our BBQ event, I knew those that talked to and listened to Fred were solidly behind him. Now we need Currituck guests to tell their friends and neighbors - Fred Smith is the leader North Carolina needs for the future.

Fair amount of slushy snow and rain as the driver cautiously took us southeast to home. Much of eastern North Carolina was spared the horrible winter storm forecasters predicted.