Greetings from Charlotte, NC, where people are already voting. Late yesterday — a good bit later than is the usual practice — Barack Obama announced that he will hold an election night celebration in Raleigh tonight. Apparently, Obama was holding out on making a decision, leaving himself the option of going to Indiana if it looked like he might upset Hillary Clinton there.

Last night, I went to a Michelle Obama rally here in Charlotte. Before Mrs. Obama spoke — and she gave a more-than-an-hour-long speech filled with resentment toward unnamed adversaries who are “raising the bar” each time her husband takes a step toward winning the Democratic nomination — the evening began as a political church service. From my story:

“Tomorrow, we shall achieve the victory, that the kingdom of God may come on earth as it is in heaven, and all those who love the Lord and will vote for Obama, say Amen.”
“AAAMMMMEEENNN!“
When it comes to giving a rip-roaring pre-election invocation, you just can’t do better than Rev. Joseph Lowery. The 86 year-old civil rights legend has come to the Ovens Auditorium here in Charlotte to work the crowd, perhaps 1,000 strong, into a prayerful mood before the last North Carolina appearance of Michelle Obama, wife of the man whose election will herald the coming of the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. And as Lowery gets going, it’s clear he’s waited for this moment for a very long time.
“I remember, Lord, when Martin and others of us were in 1957, in New Orleans, we knew one day this day would come,” Lowery begins. “We didn’t know when or where, but we knew after Martin said, Lord, to this nation, ‘Give us the ballot.’”
“Yes,” says the crowd.
“We didn’t know, Lord, that you were going to place so much significance on the great state of North Carolina — “
“That’s right — “
“but we know the people of North Carolina are able to bear the burden, and to meet the challenge, and to pass the test, and tomorrow the people of North Carolina will give climax to the campaign that seeks to lift America to another level — “
“Uh-huh — “
“to higher ground.”
“That’s right — “
“And so, Lord, we thank you that we have in this campaign and this election an opportunity in this election to move America from the dark valley of doubt to the mountaintop of hope.”
“Yes — “
“To those days when black will not be asked to get back — “
“That’s right — “
“when brown can stick around — “
“Uh-huh — “
“when yellow can be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, and when white will see the light.”
“Yes — “

When Lowery finished, when he exhorted everyone who loves the Lord and will vote for Obama to say Amen, there a huge roar of applause, perhaps because those present didn’t not just plan to vote for Obama — they’ve already voted for him. Judging by a show of hands a few moments later, the great majority of the nearly all-black crowd has already cast their ballots. Officials at the state Democratic Party tell me that of the 430,498 North Carolinians who voted early in this race, 153,832 are African-Americans. That’s about 35 percent of the Democratic electorate — pretty much in line with earlier projections. And if, as has been the case in earlier primaries, about 90 percent voted for Obama, then North Carolina could be well on its way toward lifting America to higher ground.