Latest dispatches from the campaign trail, July 30, 2012

• Former President Bill Clinton formally will nominate President Obama Wednesday, Sept. 5 at the Democratic National Convention and make the nominating speech. Vice President Joe Biden will speak before Obama Thursday night.

• Embattled Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers is also co-chairman of the DNC’s host committee, and the troubled merger with Progress Energy may be diverting his attention from last-minute organizing hiccups related to the convention.

• The race for state Supreme Court Justice between incumbent Paul Newby and appeals court Judge Sam Ervin IV will get a visible infusion of advertising money.

• The Obama campaign runs a new ad in North Carolina and other battleground states touting his approach toward supporting the middle class.