Obama at UNC Charlotte - live updates

(Updated, 7:15 p.m.) Barack Obama made his final appeal to North Carolina today with an early-evening speech at UNC Charlotte.

7:15 p.m. - Summing it up: Hours after learning of his grandmother's death, Barack Obama told a Charlotte crowd that Americans have a chance to honor "quiet heroes" like her in tomorrow's election.

Obama told a rainy outdoor rally on the UNC Charlotte campus that "this is a little bit of a bittersweet day for me." But he urged supporters not to let up on Election Day.

"Don't believe for a second that this is election is over," he said, exhorting his supporters to knock on doors and make calls tomorrow.

The Observer's Jim Morrill estimated the crowd at 10,000-12,000.

Obama told the story of his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, who died of cancer in Hawaii earlier today. "She was one of those quiet heroes that we have all across America who, they’re … not famous, their names aren’t in the newspapers but each and every day they work hard, they look after their families, they sacrifice for their children and their grandchildren," Obama said.

He added: "That’s what America’s about, and that’s what we’re fighting for."

As he has all campaign, Obama linked his opponent, John McCain, to the economic philosophies of George Bush.

Said Obama: "At a moment like this, the last thing we can afford is four more years of the tired, old theory that says we should give more to billionaires and big corporations and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else. The last thing we can afford is four more years where no one in Washington is watching anyone on Wall Street because politicians and lobbyists killed common-sense regulations. Those are the theories that got us into this mess. They haven’t worked, and it’s time for change."

When supporters booed at the mention of McCain's name, he said: "You don't need to boo. You just need to vote."

The Observer's Lisa Zagaroli will have a full report from the speech later this evening.

6:58 p.m. - Full remarks: Here's the speech, as prepared.

6:40 p.m. - Obama on stage: He tells the crowd of 6,000-7,000 - "What an amazing crowd on an amazing night."

He talks about his grandmother dying, calls her a "quiet hero." The election, he says, is a chance to honor those quiet heroes.

6:12 p.m. - No letup: Obama is headed toward campus.

What should the (wet) crowd expect? Presidential candidates traditionally go positive in the final day of campaigning. If Obama's speech this morning in Florida is a guide, he will do that some in Charlotte by telling voters about the change they could help bring to America.

But he also will continue to press the message that brought him his current lead in the polls - that John McCain shares George Bush's economic policies and philosophies. "After 21 months and three debates, Senator McCain still has not been able to tell the American people a single major thing he’d do differently from George Bush when it comes to the economy," Obama told the crowd in Jacksonville.

He added: "Look, we’ve tried it John McCain’s way. We’ve tried it George Bush’s way. Deep down, Senator McCain knows that, which is why his campaign said that 'if we keep talking about the economy, we’re going to lose.' That’s why I’m talking about the economy. That’s why he’s spent these last weeks calling me every name in the book. Because that’s how you play the game in Washington. When you can’t win on the strength of your ideas, you make a big election about small things."

5:30 p.m. - Going to be a little while...: The Observer's Lisa Zagaroli reports that it's raining hard at UNCC. Jim Morrill reports that Obama has stopped in Uptown and will be there about another 45 minutes.

5:15 p.m. - Hi, this is Barack Obama: The Observer's Jim Morrill reports that Obama just visited his campaign Charlotte's headquarters on Elizabeth Avenue. There, he talked to volunteers making signs and placing phone calls to voters, and he made a half-dozen calls himself.

On one call, he said: "I'm just making calls, hunting for votes, because we want to win North Carolina."

To the 40 or 50 volunteers, he said: "I hope you guys feel like you're making a little history. We just got to work another 24 hours. If we take North Carolina, we win this election."

4:54 p.m. - Obama statement on grandmother: From Barack Obama and his half sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, on the death of their grandmother, Madelyn Dunham:

"It is with great sadness that we announce that our grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died peacefully after a battle with cancer. She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure.

"Our family wants to thank all of those who sent flowers, cards, well-wishes, and prayers during this difficult time. It brought our grandmother and us great comfort. Our grandmother was a private woman, and we will respect her wish for a small private ceremony to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to any worthy organization in search of a cure for cancer."

4:36 p.m. - Sad news: Barack Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died. Obama left the campaign trail last month to visit her in Hawaii. A statement from the campaign is forthcoming.

4:18 p.m. - Lining up: Barack Obama will be speaking at UNCC in a little more than an hour. It's his second campaign stop of the day; he was in Florida this morning and will appear in Virginia tonight. All three states are competitive - perhaps none more so than N.C., where Obama leads one poll today and McCain leads another, each by one point.

Lisa Zagaroli reports that supporters are arriving on campus:

Hundreds of people lined up hours before a scheduled appearance for a chance to see the Democratic presidential nominee.

Wearing Obama shirts and pins, some wrapped in blankets on the breezy overcast day, folks said they wanted to be a part of history and see their favored presidential candidate.

Obama was making his eighth and final stop in North Carolina, which has emerged as a battleground state, as part of his last sweep of the country before Election Day.

"It’s the night before the election and I wanted to become because I thought Obama would be pumped up," said Adria Clark, a nurse from Charlotte. "I wanted to see him up close and personal before hopefully he become president."

Clark said she saw him three years ago in Chicago and she had a strong feeling back then he was destined for the presidency.

"He seems intelligent, kind-hearted, a down-to-earth person. I believe in his vision," she said.
UNCC student Morgan Bowles said it was important for young voters to come out and support their candidates.

"Regardless of who it is who wins, we’ve made history now with the number of registered voters on campus," Bowles said.

Bowles said the nation’s economic future is at stake with this election and she likes Obama’s tax plan.

"I’m a child of a single mother. She worked so hard to support me and send me to college," said Bowles, who’s originally from Raleigh.

Letter carrier Fred Wade said he drove from his home in Greensboro to see Obama because he’s the best man for the White House.

"He’s the most qualified, he’s the most educated, it’s time to have some intellect in the White House," he said.

Wade, who gathered with the racially diverse crowd hours before Obama was scheduled to arrive at the athletic field, said his preference for Obama, had nothing to do with race.

"Barack has some ideas to bring national pride back to the country," he said.