i want to thank you mark hernandez, ricky mcdowell, and mark dohm for hosting us and being such greatour guides. thank you so much, guys. give them a big round of applause. we've got a few outstanding north caroli north carolinans in the house. you've got your governor, bev perdue is here. your mayor, brian huff and anthony fox are here. two outstanding congressmen, mel watt and heath shuler are here. thank you all for being here. it is good to be in north carolina. anthony fox pointed out that i decided to wear a tie that could be a tar heel, but it's got a little duke color in there too. i didn't want to get in trouble with anybody, so i was hedging my bets. this is -- i always tell people, i am one of the best advertisers for north carolina. i love this state. love this state. everybody here is so nice, so welcoming. even the folks who don't vote for me. they're mice to me. they usually wave five fingers. so it's just a great pleasure. and i just had a chance to see some of the folks who are doing the work here today. i couldn't be more impressed. some people have been here, like j

i want to thank mark hernandez, ricky mcdowell, and mark dobb, for hosting us and being great tour guideseveryone, and give them a big round of applause, we have a few out standing north carolina ns in the house, you have your governor, ms. purdue, your mayors are here, two out standing congressmen, mel watt and heath shuler are here, thank you all for being here. it is good to be in north carolina. anthony fox pointed out that i decided to wear a tie that could be a tar heel, but it has gotten a bit of duke color in there too. i did not want to get in trouble with anybody, so i was hedging my bets. this is -- i tell people all the time, i'm one of the best advertisers for north carolina. i love this state. love this state everybody here is so nice. so welcoming. even the folks who don't vote for me, they are nice to me. they usually wave five fingers. so, it's just a great pleasure. i just had a chance to see some of the folks who are doing the wok here today. i could not be more impressed. some people had been here like juan, 32 years, 25 years, some fo folks had been here for four mont