RALEIGH -- Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, rolled across North Carolina Friday as part of his cross-country “Register for Change” bus tour.

Dean made three stops in our state, in Raleigh, Greensboro and Charlotte.

His day started with a rally at the state Democratic headquarters in Raleigh. He not only promoted presidential hopeful Barack Obama, but also urged people to register to vote.

“What Barack Obama wants to do is heal the country from the ugly, bitter, divisive politics of the last 30 years,” Dean told the crowd of more than 100 people.

But Dean acknowledged it will take a lot of work, and support, for a Democrat to win the Tar Heel state.

North Carolina hasn't voted for a Democratic president since 1976, when Jimmy Carter defeated President Gerald Ford after the Watergate scandal. Despite that, Democrats here say they can turn North Carolina into a blue state.

“The Democratic Party has changed a lot and so has the South,” Dean said. “I think there's no reason we shouldn't campaign hard here, and we're going to campaign very hard here, because we believe we will win North Carolina.”

Dean told supporters that winning the state is critical for Obama to become president.

“[North Carolina] is very important,” he explained. “It's got 15 electoral votes. I think it's the 10th largest state in America. We need to win here and we're going to win here.”

To do that, Dean wants supporters to knock on the doors of 75 people between now and Election Day to talk about issues and make sure they're registered to vote.

“I believe I can do that,” said Winifred Richardson, a Democrat inspired by Dean’s speech. “That's the least I can do since Mr. Obama is working so hard.”

“I'm going to be doing the voter registration,” said Erin Bergstrom, another Obama supporter. “I have my [voter registration] packet. I'm going to be talking to people I know and making sure they're registered and probably knocking on some doors.”

However, not everyone at the rally supported Dean and Obama. About half-dozen women were there holding signs, protesting against the Democratic Party and Obama.

The women said they were Democrats, but plan to switch their party affiliation to independent if Hilary Clinton is not the Democratic candidate.

"I won't get over it,” explained protester Vivian Bailey. “They say unity? No. It's not going to happen. There are too many people out there that feel the way I feel, the ones here with me today and millions more."

The protestors said in addition to dropping their Democratic affiliation, they also plan to vote for Republican Sen. John McCain in November.