NC Senate candidate Gladys Robinson rallies A&T vote

Gladys Robinson, Democratic candidate for NC Senate District 28, greets voter David Kimber outside the Old Courthouse in Greensboro.

Gladys Robinson joined poll workers outside the Old Courthouse to greet students from NC A&T University this afternoon. The students marched downtown from campus to take part in early voting.

Robinson estimated that she spoke to a couple hundred students. The A&T vote could prove critical to Robinson, who ordinarily would enjoy the advantage as the Democratic nominee in a district that heavily favors her party. However, independent Bruce Davis, a registered Democrat — who, like Robinson, is African American — is expected to cut into Robinson's base among Democrats and African Americans in High Point, where is well known thanks to his representation on the Guilford County Commission. Meanwhile, Republican Trudy Wade is expected to do well in Republican-leaning rural areas such as Jamestown and Pleasant Garden, as well as with Republicans and conservative Democrats in Greensboro.

Robinson already had A&T freshman Rhonda Stewart's vote before the students had left campus.

"She seemed more honest and experienced," said Stewart, a native of Wadesboro who is voting for the first time. "I can feel something positive from her."

At 3:23 p.m., about 55 people had gathered at A&T's student union. Beloved Community Center organizer Joseph Frierson told the students they would be marching through the heart of campus in hopes that more people would join them along the way.

"Make your last phone call," he said. "Tweet this. Y'all got Facebook. Put this on Facebook."