Dean in Greensboro
Democrats aren't afraid to fight for North Carolina, DNC Chairman Howard Dean told a Greensboro crowd at noon Friday,
Dean - stumping for Barack Obama at Governmental Plaza on Greene Street mid-way through his Southern-state "Register for Change" bus tour - told the crowd that they can help the Illinois senator win by registering neighbors and friends to vote.
"When I ran four years ago, I used to have a slogan that you have the power," he said. "As it turns out, you do have the power. You have more power than Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly ... you do."
He told the crowd of about 200 - many of whom left with packets of registration forms - that Obama's stances on health care, the war in Iraq and the economy match the needs of Southerners.
More after the jump.
Obama has said North Carolina is a formerly red state he can win, but state GOP Chairwoman Linda Daves scoffed at that notion and said Democrats don't understand the South.
But Dean said Democrats are no longer afraid of North Carolina.
"You know, we were afraid to come to the south for a long time," he admitted. "Barack Obama's philosophy is, it is a sign of respect to ask people for their vote, and we are not going to be afraid to come anywhere in any part of this country."
The former Vermont governor also ribbed presumptive Republican nominee John McCain for what Dean called a shift to the right over the last eight years.
"The truth of the matter is the John McCain of 2000 wouldn't consider voting for the John McCain of 2008," he said. "You can't say whatever you want - anything - to get elected. You've got to stick to your beliefs. And that's what Barack wants to do."
No sign of the famous Dean Scream from the 2004 campaign - he said he's "not allowed to do lists anymore."
Watch a shaky, homemade video of the Dean Machine arriving downtown here.
Hear Dean talk about reaching out to Southerners, evangelicals and more here.
