South Carolina's influential early primary is planned for late January, so Obama and his campaign staffers urged the 4,000 supporters at an afternoon rally at N.C. Central University to make the short drive south of the border. They need North Carolinians to wave signs, make phone calls and do whatever else they can to push the candidate's message across the Palmetto State.

"You don't want to be against something; you want to be for something," Obama said. "You want to feel it's still possible for everyone to rally around a common purpose."

Campaign organizers say Obama must have success in South Carolina, where a poll released Thursday showed he trailed Sen. Hillary Clinton by more than 10 points, to have any shot at the Democratic nomination.

"Ultimately, the national campaign is looking for assistance from North Carolina to help Obama win South Carolina," said Paulette Hill, communications director for Triangle for Obama, the local campaign. "They see North Carolina as a strong border state. By Eric Ferreri