Pool Report of Obama's Stop at Cafe in Durham, North Carolina

TIME: 2:30pm ET

EVENT: Barack Obama Visit to Blue Coffee Cafe

Pool Report from the Blue Coffee Café in downtown Durham, N.C., 3:15-3:50 p.m.

No news but some good color.

Best voter encounter:
On his way out the door, Sen. Obama was stopped by Susan Brooks, 39, who shook his hand. Then she leaned in, and said softly into his ear, “I voted for Hillary but I'll be with you in the general.”

“Okay, well I appreciate that,” he said, but added, “You didn't have to tell me.” Then he squeezed her arm.

Brooks told your pooler she volunteers for the Clinton campaign and favors Clinton because she's been following her for years and also because she thinks her universal health care proposal is more complete. However, Brooks said of Obama, “I think the sentiment is with him and I'd be surprised if he didn't win the nomination. But stranger things have happened.”

Also: Your print pooler could not hear this but as per AP's Tom Raum, Obama told one admirer who complimented him on his basketball skills, “We're going to build a basketball court in the White House.”

From the top:

When Sen. Obama arrives, there are maybe a dozen people there, mostly volunteers from his nearby campaign office who got a heads up at the last minute. By the time he left, the coffee house was at capacity with non-campaign folks as well and at least 150 others had gathered outside, faces pressed against the glass.

Owner Gwen Mathews, who is a supporter, told him her business will be three years old in October. “I'd better get something then,” he said. He ordered an iced coffee and said he'd like some cake, too. There was red velvet and pound cake. Your pooler urged him to go red velvet, but he said, “My mother in law makes red velvet cake and so I'm very particular about my red velvet cake.” So he got the pound cake.

Then he ordered a round for the press corps. “These guys have been working hard, they woke up early, so let's get the press corps – I'll buy that whole thing.” He bought 13 pieces of pound cake; there were only two pieces of velvet left, which he gave to two boys who were there with their moms. Some of the cake went to the press, other slices to supporters swarming around him. As per NYT's Doug Mills, Obama tipped $10.

“Can I sit down and have my cake?” Obama asked.
“Yes, you can!” one clever patron shouted back, borrowing the campaign slogan. (He ate only half – the rest was handed off to his friend Marty Nesbitt – perhaps Obama didn't want the cake crumbs on eBay this time).

While attempting to eat, he was approached by supporters and autograph seekers. “Can this working-class postal worker shake the hand of the president, please?” one woman asked and he obliged.

As Obama got up to make his way out, he shook more hands. “I wish I'd made a sign that said, ‘Republicans for Obama' said Andy Widmark. Obama told Widmark, “It means a lot – you're an Obamican.”