Latest dispatches from the campaign trail, May 18, 2012

• Fifteen N.C. candidates have requested runoffs at the State Board of Elections.

• President Obama’s campaign manager Jim Messina dismisses suggestions that Obama might not win North Carolina.

• After the Republican Governors Association runs ads against Democratic nominee Walter Dalton, a group funded by the Democratic Governors Association has purchased time to air commercials against Pat McCrory.

• The National Republican Congressional Committee adds 7th District nominee David Rouzer to its list of “contenders” — candidates who may get additional funding from the NRCC. The group considers Rouzer’s race against incumbent Mike McIntyre a tossup.

• The count of provisional ballots in House District 82 did not change the outcome: Larry Pittman defeated Jay White narrowly for the GOP nomination. With no Democrat filing, incumbent Pittman will keep his seat.