Isaac Onah, a political science professor at the University of North Carolina, told the Boston Globe that black voters appear to understand Obama's campaign strategy. They also understand why Obama had to repudiate his longtime pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Onah said.

"I think black voters are saying to themselves, 'Why isn't Rev. Wright shutting up?'" Onah said.

Obama hopes for a strong victory in North Carolina, similar to the one he got in South Carolina, the report said. In South Carolina, 80 percent of blacks voted for Obama in the Democratic primary, helping him trounce Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

Darryl Carson, a 41-year-old industrial clerk, told the Globe he sees Obama "walking a thin line." He believes other black voters in North Carolina will be there for Obama where it matters, in the voting booth, the newspaper said.