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I noted earlier that it was pretty significant that N.C. Gov. Mike Easley endorsed Barack Obama today, delivering the introduction at a rally here in Raleigh.

Easley was booed and jeered during the Democrats Jefferson-Jackson dinner, held just before the May 6 primary and not 300 feet from today's event. That's because he backed Sen. Hillary Clinton in her presidential bid and Obama supporters let him know that they were not pleased. Some in the audience, mainly older Dems for who party functions were not place for that sort of thing, were taken aback by the outburst from Obama supporters.

I talked to Mac McCorkle this afternoon. He's a long-time Easley political strategist - now working for Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue - who said that Easley's support doesn't necessarily mean Obama will have an easy go of it here.

"I really don't want to over-play that," McCorkle said. But, he said, Easley's appearance helps in two respects.

First, it shows that Democrats are together in their backing of Obama.

"What he did today reflected the unified nature of the Democratic Party down here and cast aside the notion that there would be any problem unifying behind Sen. Obama," McCorkle said.

The primary campaign had been so long and hard-fought, that many think it might take time to smooth over the grudges held by supporters of either Obama or Clinton.

Second, McCorkle said, for those who Easley is a name brand, someone they trust, his backing will mean something. He characterized Easley's base as less-political, "hard working" North Carolinians who might be worried about one part of Obama's political pedigree or another.

"That's a good signal to that part of the electorate that somebody they're comfortable with is comfortable with Obama," he said.

Certainly, one would have had a hard time imagining this picture just three weeks ago.

(Photo Credit: The Associated Press)